Kelly Cates has become the focus of an unexpected Match of the Day story following reports she has started a relationship with fellow presenter Mark Chapman. The duo, who became co-workers when they joined Gabby Logan as the BBC's new presenting line-up on the flagship football show, are believed to have developed a connection this year.
Chapman, 52, is understood to have separated from his former partner Clere Collier in April, while Cates has been divorced since 2021. According to reports, Chapman has maintained there was no overlap between the two relationships and that he had not been unfaithful. Neither Cates nor Chapman has publicly addressed the reports.
Kelly Cates' divorce and sad dating admission
Cates, 51, separated from television producer Tom Cates in 2021 after 14 years of marriage. The couple share two daughters. Speaking to Gabby Logan on her podcast, The Mid Point, Cates confessed she struggled to comprehend the idea of dating again.
"I don't have a picture in my head of why a middle-aged, slightly overweight mother of two could possibly be attractive," she said. She emphasised that her remarks were not about a lack of confidence, but rather about her difficulty understanding what someone might find romantically appealing about her after spending such a substantial portion of her adult life in a relationship.
"The thought of going on a date, spending an evening with someone and at the end of it thinking, 'Well, I don't really like you,' I would be so resentful of them taking up my time," she continued. "Obviously it's vice versa, too, but I'm not really bothered about it from their perspective - bearing in mind I don't get to see the people I do like very often. Imagine going out with somebody and you sit there half way through and think, 'God, this guy is an idiot'."
Cates also confessed she had little notion of what a long-term relationship might entail going forward. "I've got no real kind of thoughts about long-term relationships or anything like that," she explained.
Cates and her former husband have remained on good terms following their separation. "The girls are with their dad at weekends. Although we're not together, we get on fine and he's really flexible with the girls, so we manage it mostly between us," she revealed. They share two children.
Famous father and Match of the Day dream
Cates has spent practically her whole life immersed in football. Born in Glasgow, she is the daughter of Scotland and Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, yet has forged an enormously successful broadcasting career in her own right. She launched her career at Sky Sports News in 1998 and has subsequently worked for numerous leading broadcasters in British sport, including ITV, ESPN, the BBC and Sky Sports.
Her professional journey has encompassed presenting Premier League football, significant international competitions and BBC Radio 5 Live's 606, where she collaborated with former England striker Ian Wright. Despite her well-known family name, Cates has consistently refused to be characterised merely as Dalglish's daughter.
Cates' professional life achieved another significant landmark in 2025 when she was confirmed as one of three new presenters of Match of the Day following Gary Lineker's exit. For the first occasion in the show's history, the hosting duties were divided between three permanent faces, with Cates appearing alongside Chapman and Logan.
When the news was announced, she spoke enthusiastically about collaborating with Chapman and Logan. "Not only is it a great role just on its own but I'm sharing it with two people I really admire, respect and genuinely like," she said. She has also commended the chemistry among the three, maintaining that their comparable ages and professional backgrounds helped prevent the kind of rivalry that can emerge in television. "Being on a team with them is genuinely really exciting. I feel like I'm in a great little group," she said.
Kelly Cates' net worth and BBC salary
Cates' decades-spanning career in sports broadcasting has reportedly generated substantial financial returns. While no officially verified figure exists for her wealth, certain estimates place Cates' net worth at approximately £8million. This figure, initially reported by Metro, is an estimate rather than a publicly confirmed valuation, yet it reflects a broadcasting career spanning more than 25 years.
Now occupying one of the most coveted seats on Match of the Day, Cates has achieved the pinnacle of her presenting career, with her annual salary disclosed as falling between £215,000 and £220,000.
