Kate Garraway shared a warm moment with broadcaster Liam Halligan as he geared up for a grueling 300km charity tandem bike ride from London to Paris.
The Epic Charity Challenge
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 59, posed for photos with Halligan and his cycling partner Serge Kogan before their departure from the capital on Friday. The duo aims to cover the distance in just 24 hours to raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a condition Halligan was diagnosed with in childhood.
In a post on X, Halligan announced: ‘It’s today! London-to-Paris in 24 hours, 300km, on a tandem.’
A Longstanding Friendship Blossoms
Halligan, 56, an award-winning journalist and Sunday Telegraph columnist, previously served as economics and business editor at GB News. A single father of three—Maeve, Ailis, and a son—he shares a 20-year friendship with Garraway, who also knew her late husband, Derek Draper.
During a recent appearance on Mark Dolan’s Talk TV show, Halligan addressed their connection. ‘I’ve known her for a long time, I knew Derek, I was a political commentator, of course I knew him,’ he said. ‘In recent years for different reasons, we have both become single, against our wishes. So, in recent weeks and months, Kate and I have become good friends.’
He added: ‘Kate and I are good friends, it’s early days, we’ll see what happens.’
Pub Night in Saffron Walden
Garraway recently joined Halligan in his Essex hometown of Saffron Walden, where she watched his band, The Hooligans, perform at The Railway Arms pub. Witnesses described a lively atmosphere filled with singing and dancing as she mingled with his friends and neighbors.
A close friend reveals they enjoy each other’s company, with Halligan bringing laughter into her life. ‘They have known one another for 20 years. Liam knew Derek. They have so many friends in common. It’s lovely to see Kate smiling again,’ the friend noted.
Reports indicate Garraway has visited Halligan’s home several times in recent weeks amid their growing bond.
Background on Garraway’s Loss
Garraway’s husband, former political lobbyist and psychotherapist Derek Draper, passed away in January 2024 from a cardiac arrest following severe Covid-19 complications in March 2020. She continues to live in their north London home with children Darcey, 20, and Billie, 16, as the family navigates their grief.
