Kate Garraway was ‘hurt’ by the backlash over her new romance with economic journalist Liam Halligan, according to reports.

Last week, the Good Morning Britain presenter, 59, proved their relationship was going from strength to strength as she shared a photo of them with friends at a birthday party.

However, the couple sadly faced abuse from cruel trolls who took umbrage with Liam having been friends with Kate’s late husband Derek Draper.

Derek died in January 2024, following his debilitating four-year-long battle with Covid.

An insider close to the couple says Liam, 57, ‘won’t let idiotic trolls get in the way’ of their blossoming romance.

‘It was an unexpected surprise for there to be so much interest in Liam and Kate from the off. It could have scared off many men in Liam’s position,’ a source told The Sun.

Kate Garraway was ‘hurt’ by the backlash over her new romance with economic journalist Liam Halligan [ far left] after sharing a photo at a friend’s party, according to reports

‘He’s in a similar industry to Kate and understands this kind of thing comes with the territory.

‘There’s no way he’d let some idiot trolls who are commenting on X stop him from pursuing Kate.

‘They’re great friends and are really enjoying each other’s company. Liam’s been very supportive of Kate who, despite being hurt by the outcry at first, is now not paying any attention to it.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Kate’s representative for comment.

The ITV star and Liam have been dating since April but have known each other for 20 years, the Daily Mail previously revealed.

Liam recently spoke about 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.

Kate had been single since the death of her husband Derek in January 2024, following his debilitating four-year long battle with Covid (pictured together in 2019)

Liam, pictured performing with his band The Hooligans, has known the Good Morning Britain host for 20 years

‘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.

‘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 Liam 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.