Kirsty: “Being by myself has taught me to be strong”
TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher opens up about life after divorce, her battle with coronavirus and how her brother-in-law Russell Brand helped her bounce back
She’s had a difficult few years, with her divorce, her father’s health issues and bouts of anxiety and stress – but TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher admits that for the first time in a while, she’s in a great place, and believes she has the slowing down of life, caused by lockdown, to thank for it.
In 2014 (a year after her famous dad Bernard almost died from a heart attack), Kirsty split from rugby player Paul Sampson after a 15-year relationship and five years of marriage – and she later admitted she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She later gave up alcohol in 2018 after being given a two-year drink-driving ban when she admitted being three times over the limit in 2017.
Then, in March this year, she contracted coronavirus and her career as a sports presenter was put on hold due to several cancelled sports events.
LONELINESS
But six months on and Kirsty, 44, realises that – despite struggling initially – lockdown has made her think about what she really wants from life.
She tells Closer, “When I got COVID in March, I was very unwell. I literally had a month of hell with hot sweats and chills, palpitations, loss of taste and sickness. Unlike most people, I developed a bad cough at the end. It was very frightening.
“And for me, the hardest thing about the pandemic has been the loneliness. I’ve been on an emotional journey, but I feel I’ve now come out stronger than ever. I have been struggling quite a bit over the past few years, but the knock-backs have given me time to learn and reassess my life.”
Kirsty – who shares sons Oscar, 13, and Jude, ten, with Paul – admits it was tough not being able to see them during her illness.
She adds, “My kids are my whole world and not to have them with me [while Kirsty was self-isolating] when I felt so unwell was horrendous. It was such a hard time for me, physically and mentally. I kept worrying if they were OK.
“Anyone who has been through a divorce where kids are involved will know your number-one priority is them. I’m always worrying about how they are coping and I’m in awe of all the single mums out there.
Becoming a single mum sent my stress levels through the roof.”
Since her split from
Paul, Kirsty has been linked to comedian Jack
Whitehall and rugby player Danny Cipriani, but remains single, and lockdown has also made her realise romance isn’t everything.
She says, “Being by myself over the past few months has certainly taught me to be strong. Lockdown has been a big reset button and learning curve when it came to dealing with my mental health. I’ve found ways to cope with being by myself, like going for a really long walk or reading.
“I’ve had to deal with a lot of anxiety, and I feel like maybe – touch wood – I’ve cracked that one, which is rather wonderful as it has been a very long process.”
Kirsty began her career at Sky Sports in 1996, starting off as a production assistant and eventually making it as a news presenter and host of shows like Kirsty’s Home Videos and Gladiators. She also had a presenting gig on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in 2005.
She shocked fans when she left Sky Sports in 2018, after 20 years there – but has gone on to launch podcast Stripped Back Sport.
She credits her brother-in-law Russell Brand – who married Kirsty’s sister Laura in 2017 – for helping her reach her goals.
LEAP OF FAITH
She says, “One of the reasons I left Sky Sports was because I wanted to be more creative and in control of my work. Russell has been a pillar of support. He gave me some encouraging words of motivation, to follow my dreams and focus on doing what I wanted. At first, I didn’t listen, but then I took the leap of faith and it made me so happy.
“And now I obviously say to him, ‘You were right’, because I’m in a good place now after a very difficult journey. You can hit rock bottom like I did and then turn things around for the better.”
By Suzanne Baum
● Kirsty has partnered with sports nutrition brand Kinetica Sports. Visit Kineticasports.com
CLOSERONLINE.CO.UK
‘You can hit rock bottom, then turn things
around’