Kirsty Gallacher's life - divorce, famous family and finding love again

Kirsty Gallacher is set to light up our screens once more this weekend as she joins culinary star James Martin on his mouth-watering ITV Saturday Morning cooking show, ready to dish out details on her life nowadays.

Rising to stardom as a Sky Sports News presenter in 1998, the now-49 year old later captivated audiences with her very own programme, Kirsty's Home Videos, and by teaming up with Geordie favourites Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly on their Saturday Night Takeaway segment Ant Vs Dec.

In addition to fronting the morning broadcast RISE back in 2002, Gallacher has made her mark on other TV classics like They Think It's All Over and A Question Of Sport.

Of late, Kirsty has shifted her charms from the television to radio beginning with Smooth Radio before advancing to hosting duties at Gold Radio. From Monday to Friday, she delights listeners with "All Time Classics" tracks spanning the 50s to the 80s - a gig that aligns with her longstanding passion for broadcasting.

Kirsty hails from a household of famous faces, born to the legendary golfer and Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher. Her sister Laura is also a succesful author and illustrator of titles such as The Joy Journal and Slow Down And Be Here Now, she's also married to comedian and Big Brother's Big Mouth star Russell Brand, and together they have three children, reports

Divorce

Kirsty Gallacher had a 15-year relationship with her ex-husband, rugby star Paul Sampson, including five years of marriage before their separation in 2015.

The couple chose to co-parent their two sons, Oscar, 17, and Jude, 14 following their divorce. Kirsty has confessed that adjusting to life post-Paul was a struggle, particularly in the initial days following their split.

Speaking on Aimee Fuller's Monday Mile podcast, the former Sky Sports News presenter shared insights into her life after divorce.

Kirsty candidly revealed: "When I got divorced, when I separated, obviously the kids would spend time with their father, and me. I was horrendously lonely, [I was] not in a good place, very sad. Because it was completely different and I actually don't really love being on my own. I like being surrounded by family and noise."

Facing the prospect of never finding love again.

During the same conversation on the Monday Mile podcast, the broadcaster delved into her life as a single mother and the challenges of balancing a busy work schedule whilst being present for her sons.

Initially overwhelmed by solitude, Kirsty confided in the podcast host Aimee: "I like my peace now and I've grown to like that and enjoy it, probably purely because I'm so busy, so juxtaposed to the mania sometimes of the house, it's quite nice to have just a minute to kind of breathe.

"But really in the beginning it was very hard to get used to no kids around or just, you know, a different sort of situation. So I was always pining to meet someone, wanting to have someone around."

In the same conversation, Kirsty opened up about her initial fears of not being able to move on from her marriage to Paul, admitting: "I had faith in meeting someone one day, I nearly lost faith and I'm very grateful that I met my bloke and I do think it gets more difficult later on [to meet someone later in life]."

Health Struggle.

In 2021, Kirsty, known for her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, disclosed that doctors had discovered a benign acoustic neuroma in her right ear's inner canal.

Following her health concerns and symptoms, Kirsty chose to step down from her position at GB News to concentrate on her wellbeing in the same year. In a candid interview with the Daily Star, she shared: "The tumour is a benign acoustic neuroma which they don't really know how they are caused.

"I am in close contact with my consultant and recently it was great to hear that it hasn't grown so I can put off treatment. Eventually, I may need treatment to shrink it but with these things, you never know it could shrink itself."

The television personality has been permanently affected by her tumour diagnosis. She further confided to the Star: "My hearing is slightly compromised in that ear and it causes low-level tinnitus which can disrupt my sleep but I've learnt to live with it and I'm used to it."

The NHS website defines tinnitus as a condition where individuals experience ringing, humming, or buzzing in the ears, which can be highly disruptive, affecting concentration and sleep in severe cases.

New romance.

Kirsty Gallacher couldn't contain her joy last year when she announced that she had found love again with former rugby player Darren Clayton.

Their connection sparked at a charity event hosted by Darren, where mutual friends Gabby Logan and her husband Kenny introduced them. During a charity walk and bike ride to raise funds for motor neurone disease - a cause dear to Kirsty - their eyes met for the first time.

Speaking to The Mirror, Kirsty revealed: "I joined Kenny and Gabby on this challenge, to raise awareness and funds in memory of the great Scottish rugby player, Doddie Weir."

She continued: "You know when you just meet someone and they're obviously good-looking, and you're attracted to them? That was it. I just got on really well with him."

Reflecting on her life's journey, Kirsty mused: "I feel like I've had three different lives: one in my twenties - the early time in my career, without kids, then my thirties was all career and kids, and then this new life, navigating my forties in a different place, with a slightly different career path and older kids. Now I'm not married, and making different decisions. It's a funny thing."

Reflecting on the past year spent with her partner, she radiated joy in her interview with the publication: "We've really enjoyed our last year together, it's really lovely. Let's see what happens!"

Kirsty will be on James Martin's Saturday Kitchen, this Saturday from 09:30am.