Showbiz

Smitten Kirsty Gallacher, 49, opens up on future marriage plans with ex-rugby player boyfriend Darren Clayton, 38 .

Smitten Kirsty Gallacher, 49, opens up on future marriage plans with ex-rugby player boyfriend Darren Clayton, 38
          
          .

Kirsty Gallacher has opened up on her potential future marriage plans with her boyfriend Darren Clayton.

The TV star, 48, and ex rugby player, 38, have been together for around a year and five months after meeting through their two mutual friends – Gabby and Kenny Logan.

It’s been no secret how smitten Kirsty is with Darren, who is a businessman as well as an athlete, after they first spoke to each other while attending a fundraising event. 

In October, they looked every inch the perfect couple as they marked their first anniversary with a dinner of champagne and oysters at Langan’s Brᴀsserie in London. 

And now as they look ahead to the future, Kirsty has admitted that although she never thought she would get married again following her split from Paul Sampson, tying a knot for a second time could be on the cards.

The former GB News host told The Sun: ‘We do talk about getting married. Funnily, he’s much more into the idea of marriage than I am. I’m very much like: ‘Do we need that?’

Smitten Kirsty Gallacher, 49, opens up on future marriage plans with ex-rugby player boyfriend Darren Clayton, 38
          
          .

Kirsty Gallacher has opened up on her potential future marriage plans with her boyfriend Darren Clayton

The TV star, 48, and ex rugby player, 38, have been together for around a year and five months after meeting through their two mutual friends - Gabby and Kenny Logan

The TV star, 48, and ex rugby player, 38, have been together for around a year and five months after meeting through their two mutual friends – Gabby and Kenny Logan

‘For him, it’s very important to actually have that union and [be able to] say it. And I said: ‘Well, we can say it. Do we have to do the marriage?’ 

She continued: ‘I think an engagement is wonderfully romantic and that would do for me. That would be enough, because it’s the whole: ‘I want to be with you forever’.  

However, Kirsty made it clear that she’s not opposed to the idea and admitted that if Darren wanted to get married, she would.

Sharing an insight into their one year anniverdary evening, Kirsty revealed the couple  tucked into the restaurant’s £33 fish pie and a £17 cheese board for two. 

After sipping on a glᴀss of bubbly they enjoyed a glᴀss of red wine, documenting their night out with a series of social media snaps.

Kirsty looked chic in a black roll neck jumper and wore her dark hair slicked back into a ponytail, while adding a glamorous coat of make-up.

Meanwhile, dapper Darren mirrored his girlfriend’s look in his own black jumper and jeans for the special occasion.

Alongside the pH๏τos, Kirsty wrote: ‘Celebrating a wonderful year together thank you @clayton.darren for all you do for me & the boys. We love you.

‘And thank you for having us Langans Brᴀsserie always a delightful evening and an exquisite, we can’t wait to visit again!’

It's been no secret how smitten Kirsty is with Darren, who is a businessman as well as an athlete, after they first spoke to each other while attending a fundraising event

It’s been no secret how smitten Kirsty is with Darren, who is a businessman as well as an athlete, after they first spoke to each other while attending a fundraising event

In October, they looked every inch the perfect couple as they marked their first anniversary with a dinner of champagne and oysters at Langan's Brᴀsserie in London.

In October, they looked every inch the perfect couple as they marked their first anniversary with a dinner of champagne and oysters at Langan’s Brᴀsserie in London.

Read More Kirsty Gallacher comes under fire for letting her children and pet dog play on ice article image

During their time together, the couple enjoyed a romantic getaway to Devon, where Darren’s parents live.

Darren was a flanker for Surrey club Esher and currently runs sports events group Zeus with former England captain Chris Robshaw, 38.

Kirsty is mother to her two sons Oscar, 18, and Jude, 14, who she shares with her ex Paul Sampson, 47.

The Smooth radio star, who is the daughter of Scots golf legend Bernard Gallacher, split from her former rugby player ex in 2015 after 15 years.

Kirsty has previously been romantically linked with boxing champion Johnny Nelson, 58, Laurence Fox, 46, and Paddy McGuinness, 51.

The star previously admitted that she found her divorce ‘devastating’ and revealed that she was ‘grieving and mourning’ the loss of her marriage.

The turmoil of the split led to a deep depression and her physical collapse at Sky Sports in 2016.

Kirsty revealed that in the months prior to that, she struggled to juggle her broadcasting duties, her training schedule -she was a compeтιтor on Strictly Come Dancing in the autumn of 2015 – and being a single mum to her two boys.

The presenter has also opened up about how she fell for her partner Darren after they bonded over being single parents.

Kirsty said: 'We do talk about getting married. Funnily, he's much more into the idea of marriage than I am. I'm very much like: 'Do we need that?'

Kirsty said: ‘We do talk about getting married. Funnily, he’s much more into the idea of marriage than I am. I’m very much like: ‘Do we need that?’

Kirsty previously opened up about how she fell for Darren after they bonded over being single parents (pictured with her two sons Oscar and Jude)

Kirsty previously opened up about how she fell for Darren after they bonded over being single parents (pictured with her two sons Oscar and Jude) 

Kirsty and her ex-husband Paul met in 1999 shortly after he had won his first cap for England and Kirsty was made the new face of Sky Sports News (pictured in 2011)

Kirsty and her ex-husband Paul met in 1999 shortly after he had won his first cap for England and Kirsty was made the new face of Sky Sports News (pictured in 2011)

Kirsty revealed she is ‘really happy’ with her boyfriend and revealed he often looks after her when she works too much.

She told The Sun: ‘We’re very happy, we both had similar stories — we are single parents and love playing golf.

‘He looks after me and tells me to have time off as I can be a workaholic.’

‘I’m usually running around like mad with the children at their sport, but my boyfriend encourages me to take a day off as I work on Saturdays doing my radio show’, she added.

The duo met in Edinburgh last year for a fundraising event in memory of rugby player Doddie Weir – who pᴀssed away in 2022 from Motor Neurone Disease.

Kirsty revealed that her two sons ‘love him’ and the pair had been together for nearly a year, with Darren also a father to a daughter from a previous relationship.

Kirsty and Paul met in 1999 shortly after he had won his first cap for England and Kirsty was made the new face of Sky Sports News.

They married in 2010 in a £50,000 ceremony in Spain but their relationship started to wobble the following year after Paul’s retirement from rugby due to injury.

He went into a depression and did not know what to do with himself, a situation worsened by the fact he had failed to come to terms with his father’s death in 2004.

Kirsty then called an end to their four-year marriage in 2014.

Related Posts

All the signs Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne had split from accusations of infidelity to their recent house sale

All the signs Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne had split from accusations of infidelity to their recent house sale

Jacqueline Jossa has reportedly split from her husband Dan Osbourne after eight years of marriage, it was claimed on Saturday.  The EastEnders actress, 32, and the reality TV…

Brooklyn Beckham cosies up to wife Nicola Peltz as they and glamorous Anne Hathaway lead the stars at Moncler Grenoble show in France

Brooklyn Beckham cosies up to wife Nicola Peltz as they and glamorous Anne Hathaway lead the stars at Moncler Grenoble show in France

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz enjoyed a day out to the Moncler Grenoble Fall/Winter 2025 Show in France on Saturday. The smitted couple lead the glamour…

Love Island’s Samantha Kenny showcases her facial transformation as she tries to reverse her ‘unnatural look’

Love Island’s Samantha Kenny showcases her facial transformation as she tries to reverse her ‘unnatural look’

Samantha Kenny showcased her transformative facial tweakments as she tries to reverse her ‘unnatural look’. The former Love Island star, 27, shared a series of before and after…

Liam Gallagher could ‘face £86,000 a year a**hole tax’ after calling mother of his love child a ‘gold digger’ as she ‘files fresh support claim’

Liam Gallagher could ‘face £86,000 a year a**hole tax’ after calling mother of his love child a ‘gold digger’ as she ‘files fresh support claim’

Liam Gallagher could reportedly ‘face £86,000 a year a**hole tax’ after calling the mother of his love child a ‘gold digger.’  Liza Ghorbani, 51, who shares 12-year-old daughter Gemma…

Secret hidden meaning behind Netflix’s Adolescence ending REVEALED through ‘haunting’ detail

Secret hidden meaning behind Netflix’s Adolescence ending REVEALED through ‘haunting’ detail

The secret hidden meaning behind the shattering ending of Netflix drama Adolescence has been revealed.  The crime series, written by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, hit our screens on…

Matty Healy ‘is rumoured to be writing a memoir that promises insight into his life’ – but will he spill the beans about his romance with ex Taylor Swift?

Matty Healy ‘is rumoured to be writing a memoir that promises insight into his life’ – but will he spill the beans about his romance with ex Taylor Swift?

Matty Healy is rumoured to be writing a new memoir which will feature exciting tidbits from his life, which may include his past relationship with Taylor Swift. The…