Kate Garraway jets off on her first holiday with new boyfriend Liam Halligan - after finding love two years on from husband Derek Draper's passing

has jetted off on her first holiday with her new boyfriend, Liam Halligan, two years after her husband tragically died. 

The presenter, 59, has accompanied the economic journalist, 57, on a work trip to over the weekend.

The pair have been dating for three months but have known each other for 20 years, the Daily Mail previously revealed.

He was also a friend of Kate's late spouse, Derek Draper.

According to reports, Liam was travelling to Europe for work and asked Kate to join him.

A source told The Sun: 'Liam was travelling to Italy and asked Kate to join him, she was happy to oblige.

'It will be quite low-key, but they are hoping to be able to spend some time together and enjoy the Italian cuisine.'

Their trip abroad comes after Liam told of the 'definite spark' he has with Kate as their fledgling romance continues to heat up.

The British economist said the new couple have 'much in common' despite being from 'different parts of the media.'

They were seen giggling and cuddling up together in May as Kate supported him as he took part in the Duchenne Dash, an annual charity cycle ride to Paris.

Liam even said he was 'flabbergasted' to find himself the subject of showbiz news – using the same word that Kate was mocked by Tom Daley for using on Celebrity Traitors last year.

'As a sandwich-board man of the business pages, I'm flabbergasted to be in the showbiz sections,' he wrote in his Spectator column.

'Nobody wanted to know about my warnings of market meltdown but reporters now follow me around, asking: "How's it going with Kate?"

He said: 'Kate Garraway and I are from different parts of the media but have much in common – not least a shared sense of humour.

'Though it's early days, there's a definite spark between us.'

In reference to his recent bike ride, he joked: 'But can she ride a tandem?'

While Kate is yet to speak on the romance, Liam recently admitted the pair had become 'good friends' after both becoming 'single, against our wishes' in recent years.

Kate has been single since the death of her husband Derek in January 2024, following his debilitating four-year long battle with Covid.

'It's early days, we'll see what happens. I've known her for a long time. I knew Derek, I was a political commentator,' he said on Mark Dolan's Talk TV show last month.

'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.'

Rumours of a romance first started when the pair were spotted together in Liam's hometown of Saffron Walden in Essex in March.

They were spotted looking cosy during a night out at The Railway Arms pub, during which father-of-three Halligan performed with his band.

'It's all very exciting and Kate is giddy. It is just so lovely for her friends and family to see. She will never stop loving Derek and is still grieving but she is finding a way to be happy,' a source told the Mail on Sunday.