BBC football hosts Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates are in a relationship, according to reports confirmed by The Telegraph and The Sun.
Match of the Day presenters Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates have been an item for at least a few months, sharing presenting duties on the BBC One football highlights show since last year alongside Gabby Logan. The pairing brings together two high-profile figures from the broadcaster’s flagship Premier League programme, which previously featured Gary Lineker from 1999 until his departure last year. The official BBC portrait announcing Chapman, Cates, and Logan as co-hosts was captured by Charlie Clift.
Behind the BBC Match of the Day Presenter Lineup
Chapman, known to viewers as “Chappers”, has anchored Match of the Day 2 since 2013 and ranks among the network’s top-earning broadcasters, taking home £335,000–£340,000 annually. He was also a highly visible presence on the network’s rugby league coverage, though that role appears to have been reduced following reports that the broadcaster lost the Super League rights.
Cates is the daughter of former Liverpool and Scotland star Sir Kenny Dalglish. The trio of Chapman, Cates, and Logan took over the flagship Saturday and Sunday football programming following Lineker’s departure in 2025.
Previous Relationships and Media Talk Surrounding the Couple
The relationship follows significant personal milestones for both presenters. Chapman was married for nearly two decades before losing his wife Sara to cancer at age 44 in 2020. Cates was previously married to television producer Tom Cates for 14 years before their divorce was announced in 2021. Cates has two children with her ex-husband.
Reflecting on her life as a single person, Cates previously expressed reservations about long-term romantic commitments. She noted, Bearing in mind I don't get to see the people I do like quite often, but I do know unless I want to spend the rest of my life alone… and I've got no real thoughts about long-term relationships or anything like that.
She further highlighted the frustration of potential dating scenarios, adding, Imagine sitting there and halfway through you think, 'God, this guy's an idiot'. You've just wasted a babysitter.
Colleague Reactions and Workplace Dating Warnings on talkSPORT
News of the romance drew lighthearted commentary from fellow broadcasters on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, where co-hosts Gabby Agbonlahor and Ally McCoist expressed their support while offering a few notes of caution regarding workplace romance.
How fantastic. Great news for a Monday morning. It’s set everyone listening off to a great week.
Gabby Agbonlahor, talkSPORT Breakfast co-host
Fellow Breakfast co-host Ally McCoist added, We're all delighted and we're all thrilled. We wish them all the best. Two great people.
Despite the positive reception, the hosts engaged in a conversation regarding the complications of dating a colleague. Agbonlahor noted, I wouldn't like it. Imagine you've had an argument and you're both going to the same job and you've got to walk past each other and you're not speaking. For me, I wouldn't like my partner to work in the same place as me.
McCoist echoed this sentiment, joking that while some couples handle it fine, others find it less than ideal.
The BBC declined to comment on the relationship reports. As the program continues, Cates will be absent from Match of the Day hosting duties this weekend. The show will feature Gabby Logan leading Saturday’s broadcast, with Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy providing punditry. The upcoming edition marks the first broadcast since the reports regarding the relationship between the two presenters emerged.
