Mark Chapman's romance with fellow Match of the Day presenter Kelly Cates has reportedly left his ex-girlfriend "shocked and upset". The couple recently went public with their relationship at a party at a Mayfair hotel on London's Park Lane.
Chapman, 52, was described as "glowing" after beginning a relationship with Cates, 51. He has dealt with significant personal grief in recent years, with his wife of 19 years, Sara, dying of cancer in 2020. In the interim, the TV and radio host dated Dubai-based property agent Clere Collier.
Relationship timeline
The relationship with Collier looked to be going from strength to strength, and the pair were seen on the lookout for a new home in Altrincham, but they unexpectedly parted ways in April. Cates and Chapman are long-time friends, and for some close acquaintances of the pair, their only surprise is that it took this long for them to get together.
"They're old mates who have known one another for years – nearly two decades – and now they've fallen in love," one source told Mail+. "You'll struggle to meet one person in either their work or friendship circles who isn't totally thrilled for them."
Ex's reaction
Mark and Kelly are said to have developed feelings for one another in May before their connection deepened while working together in the United States during the World Cup. "They realised they had feelings for one another and they were both single, and it just works," another unnamed source said.
Yet not everyone is pleased about the blossoming romance. Chapman's former partner Clere is reportedly "raging" and is said to have contacted The Sun after learning that Mark and Kelly had become an item. It is alleged that Clere was behind the story revealing their relationship after uncovering the truth. The reaction is said to have followed Mark ending things "out of the blue" despite her having made plans to leave Dubai and move to the UK, with Clere said to be "shocked and upset" at him moving on so soon.
"It all came as a shock to Clere when Mark told her that," one person with knowledge of the situation said. "She was heartbroken when he ended things. She was not happy at all."
Kelly Cates' background
Kelly, the daughter of Liverpool and Scotland icon Kenny Dalglish, parted ways with TV producer husband Tom five years ago. The couple tied the knot in 2007 and have two daughters together.
The presenter, who also anchors some of Sky Sports' football coverage, discussed her experiences with dating following her divorce in 2021. "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," Cates said on Gabby Logan's The Mid Point podcast. "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."
She added: "I've got no real kind of thoughts about long-term relationships or anything like that. Imagine going out with somebody and you sit there half way through and think, 'God, this guy is an idiot.'"
