Kate Garraway ‘devastated’ by reaction to boyfriend Liam Halligan after Derek Draper heartbreak

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 5, 2026 10:34am Updated August 5, 2026 10:34am Kate Garraway and Liam Halligan attended a mutual friend’s birthday party last week (Picture: Shutterstock/PA) Kate Garraway has reportedly been left upset by comments about her relationship with new partner Liam Halligan. The Good Morning Britain presenter and fellow journalist Halligan were first romantically linked earlier this year, after she was spotted attending his band’s gig in Essex. The 59-year-old has since gone public with Halligan, sharing a snap with the 57-year-old at a mutual friend’s birthday party last week. Garraway lost her husband Derek Draper two years ago, following a long battle with the after-effects of Covid-19, which she documented in a series of award-winning ITV documentaries. She has known Halligan for two decades, and he was also a friend of her late spouse, but the pair are said to have grown close lately. Despite years having passed since the loss of her husband, certain social media users hit out at her new romance in the comments section underneath her X post with Halligan last month. Garraway lost her husband Derek Draper two years ago (Picture: Grant Buchanan/Dave Benett/WireImage) The cruel comments alleged she had ‘milked’ her husband’s death, while others took issue with the fact she is dating a friend of her late husband. A source close to Garraway has told The Mirror that the negative reception has been ‘upsetting’. They added: ‘She went through such heartbreak with Derek, and now she’s seeing someone who is really supportive and kind to her. She just wanted people to be pleased for her – and she thinks she deserves some happiness at long last. ‘Kate tries not to read such horrible comments, but she just doesn’t get the hostility. She hasn’t tried to hide her relationship with Liam, and though it’s still early days everyone close to her thinks she is due a happy ending. ‘She’s so upset that some people can’t let her enjoy something good and positive in her life.’ ‘Kate tries not to read such horrible comments, but she just doesn’t get the hostility’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) She has known Halligan for two decades, and he was also a friend of her late spouse (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA) Garraway previously confirmed she was dating the economics journalist, who served as the economics and business editor at GB News until the summer of 2024. The pair have been spotted on trips in France and Italy this year, after Halligan addressed the romance rumours during an appearance on Mark Dolan’s Talk TV radio show in April. Halligan said: ‘I’ve known Kate for a long time. I knew her late husband Derek, of course I did; I was a correspondent for the Financial Times in the late nineties. ‘In recent years, for different reasons we’ve both ended up single, against our wishes I should say. And so, in recent weeks and months Kate and I have become good friends.’ He went on: ‘Kate and I are good friends, it’s early days, we’ll see what happens.’ Deals of the Day Wuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows Bridgerton fans are rushing to buy these new Netflix-inspired perfumes now £12 off The affordable summer wardrobe update you'll wear from rooftop drinks to beach holidays The £7.99 lip balm beauty fans love for glossy, hydrated lips just dropped four new shades This Keskine hydrogel mask could fix your summer skin Metro contacted Kate Garraway’s representative for comment on this story. Arrow MORE: God Of War TV show in talks to cast Dave Bautista as Kratos and fans love it Arrow MORE: Apparently, this is the nonsexual act that men find insanely attractive Arrow MORE: I earn £230,000 and want to retire at 47 — my younger girlfriend thinks that’s unfair TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.