Alan Carr's rocky love life from ex-husband's booze battle to toyboy boyfriend
Alan Carr is 'head over heels' for his new boyfriend after healing from the heartbreak of his divorce.
The 47-year-old is one of the UK's best-loved comedians and TV presenters, from hosting BBC's Interior Design Masters to Amanda & Alan's Italian Job, he is a familiar face on our screens. Away from his successful career, Alan has had a tumultuous love life in recent times, with his three-year marriage breaking down in 2022.
Alan was with his ex-husband, Paul Drayton, for 13 years before they decided to split in lockdown. They never confirmed the reason for their split, but insisted it was a joint and 'amicable' decision to part ways. Alan shared in 2022 how his divorce was very 'raw' and his telly show and tour felt therapeutic after the divorce.
Speaking about his Regional Trinket tour on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Alan said: "This show had to be rescheduled because of Covid; I just really didn't want to cancel. My marriage broke down in lockdown. No, it's fine – people head tilt when you've got bad news." The pair had wed in 2018, with Adele officiating the ceremony.
In 2021, Paul received therapy and went to rehab after he went public with his booze battle by posting a picture of his black eye following a drinking binge. He shared the now-deleted Instagram post in August 2021 and sparked concern from his followers. Paul had initially joked that the injury was due to an argument with Alan.
Amanda Holden among stars fronting Comic Relief as Red Nose has 'makeover'Paul then apologised and clarified how he got the black eye, and confessed he had punched himself in the face during a drunken binge. At the time, Alan released a statement: "When I arrived back home from Wales, Paul was covered in scratches and bruises from a drinking binge. We are now working together to get the help he needs to get better which is our number one priority right now."
In early 2023, Alan spoke out about his relationship with his ex after their split. "I don't hate him. It takes up too much energy. We have all got to move on," he said. He admitted that he found dating apps difficult to get on with. "People ask if I am doing the apps but I find it quite triggering," he explained, adding jokingly: "I used to work at a singles bar in Northampton and I was like the goat who gets lowered in that crate in Jurassic Park."
Then in November last year, the comic announced he had found love again when he went 'Instagram official' with celebrity hairstylist Callum Heslop, 27. Callum has worked as a celebrity hairstylist for eight years, having worked closely with Amanda Holden, Helen Flanagan and Charlotte Dawson, and owns his own salon in Knutsford, Cheshire. The pair, who have a 20-year age gap, reportedly went on a romantic getaway together in the US and were said to have been invited to Adele's plush pad in LA for Thanksgiving dinner.
Speaking to The Sun, an insider claimed Alan and Callum started off as friends, but their bond soon grew romantic with the pair now 'head over heels' for one another. "They have a really nice friendship and that has been the base for a relationship to blossom," the source claimed. "He meets celebs through his job, so isn't fazed. It takes a lot to introduce a partner to someone as famous as Adele but she couldn't have been friendlier," they added.
- Amanda & Alan's Italian Job airs on BBC One at 8.30pm tonight.