BBC Match of the Day presenter Kelly Cates has found herself at the centre of an unexpected storyline after reportedly beginning a relationship with fellow host Mark Chapman.
The pair, who became colleagues when they joined Gabby Logan as the BBC's new presenting team on the flagship football programme, are understood to have grown close this year.
Chapman, 52, is reported to have split from his former partner Clere Collier in April, while Cates has been divorced since 2021.
No Overlap, Says Chapman
According to reports, Chapman has insisted there was no overlap between the two relationships and that he had not been unfaithful.
Neither Cates nor Chapman has publicly commented on the reports.
The apparent new romance comes after Cates previously spoke openly about the prospect of returning to the dating scene following the end of her marriage.
Cates' Divorce and Honest Dating Admission
Cates, 51, separated from television producer Tom Cates in 2021 after 14 years of marriage. The couple have two daughters together.
Speaking to Gabby Logan on her podcast, The Mid Point, Cates admitted she found the idea of dating again difficult to get her head around.
"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 insisted her comments were not about a lack of confidence, but rather her inability to understand what somebody might see in her romantically after spending so much 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 added.
"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 admitted she had no idea of what a long-term relationship would look like in the future.
"I've got no real kind of thoughts about long-term relationships or anything like that," she said.
Cates and her ex-husband have maintained a cordial relationship since splitting.
"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 said. They share two children.
A Football Upbringing Like Few Others
Cates has spent virtually her entire life around football.
Born in Glasgow, she is the daughter of Scotland and Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish, but has carved out a hugely successful broadcasting career in her own right.
She began her career at Sky Sports News in 1998 and has gone on to work for many of the biggest broadcasters in British sport, including ITV, ESPN, the BBC and Sky Sports.
Her career has included presenting Premier League football, major international tournaments and BBC Radio 5 Live's 606, where she worked alongside former England striker Ian Wright.
Despite her famous surname, Cates has long resisted being defined simply as Dalglish's daughter.
Over more than two decades in broadcasting, she has developed a reputation for a warm, conversational style and an ability to get the best out of footballers and pundits.
Match of the Day Dream
Cates' career reached another major milestone in 2025 when she was named as one of the three new hosts of Match of the Day following Gary Lineker's departure.
For the first time in the programme's history, the presenting role was shared between three regular hosts, with Cates joined by Chapman and Logan.
Cates had been linked with the role before the appointment but had previously played down the idea that she was actively pursuing it.
When the announcement was made, she spoke enthusiastically about working alongside 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 praised the dynamic between the trio, insisting their similar ages and careers helped prevent the kind of competition that can exist in television.
"Being on a team with them is genuinely really exciting. I feel like I'm in a great little group," she said.
The appointment came after years in which Cates had established herself as one of the most respected female voices in British football broadcasting.
Building Her Own Reputation
Cates' career has also involved navigating the unusual pressures that come with being the daughter of one of football's most famous figures.
But she has increasingly become known simply as Kelly Cates - a presenter with an extensive CV and a style distinctly her own.
She has continued to work for Sky Sports alongside her BBC commitments, covering Premier League matches while also taking on radio and podcast work.
Her approach is notably different from the combative style sometimes associated with football television.
Cates has described the modern broadcasting landscape as increasingly conversational, something which fits naturally with her own style.
"I think that the tone generally has changed to become more conversational on air," she said.
That ability to make interviews feel less formal has become one of her trademarks.
Kelly Cates' Net Worth and BBC Salary
Cates' decades-long career in sports broadcasting has also reportedly brought considerable financial rewards.
While there is no officially confirmed figure for her wealth, some estimates put Cates' net worth at around £8 million.
The figure, reported by Metro and subsequently cited by other outlets, is an estimate rather than a publicly verified valuation, but reflects a broadcasting career spanning more than 25 years.
Cates was one of the first presenters on Sky Sports News when the channel launched in 1998 and has since worked across Sky Sports, BBC Sport, ESPN, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and radio.
Her work has included flagship Premier League coverage, major international tournaments and prominent radio programmes, while her move into the Match of the Day presenting team has further cemented her position among British football's most recognisable broadcasters.
Now, as one of the faces of Match of the Day, Cates has reached the biggest presenting job of her career, with her salary revealed to be between £215,000 and £220,000.
