Rylan Clark recently gave fans a heartwarming update about his personal life, expressing that his new partner, Kennedy Bates, is ‘the one he has been waiting for all along’.

As the renowned TV host, now 37, prepared to welcome 2026, he took to Instagram to reminisce about the ‘incredible’ year just passed.

Since announcing his relationship in August, Rylan has been openly enthusiastic, celebrating the end of the year with Kennedy by his side, finding joy in their connection.

On a simple black backdrop, he shared his thoughts: ‘Ending this year with happiness alongside someone I’ve long awaited.’

He continued, ‘Here’s to another fantastic year. Goodbye 2025… take care, be well, and support one another… Here’s to 2026.’

Rylan’s update was met with warmth from both fans and fellow celebrities like Carol Vorderman, Louise Redknapp, and Ruth Langsford, who expressed their admiration in the comments.

Rylan Clarkhas shared a sweet relationship update as he says his new boyfriend Kennedy Bates (L)  is ‘someone I’ve been waiting for for a long time’

The TV presenter, 37, took to Instagram hours before ringing in 2026 to reflect on the ‘amazing’ year he has had

It comes after the TV presenter went Instagram official with Kennedy, who works as a boss at the Billy Bates & Sons funfair in Leicestershire, in September.

Rylan looked happier than ever as he shared a series of loved-up snaps from their romantic trip to Florence, Italy.

The holiday snaps come several weeks after Rylan revealed that his new boyfriend is the first man he’s introduced to his family since his divorce. 

The former X Factor star was married to Dan Neal for six years before they divorced in 2021, after Rylan admitted he had cheated.

Now, four years on from the split, Rylan shared last month that he is in a new relationship with a man named Kennedy. 

He announced the romance during an interview with Louis Theroux on his How To Be In Love podcast, which followed his journey to find love.

Rylan said he had been ‘blatant’ about the romance, going on multiple public dates ‘nobody noticed’.

The pair have even discussed the possibility of having children, with Rylan telling Louis that both he and his new partner want to start a family. 

Rylan, who revealed he was in a new relationship in August, wrote: ‘Finishing this year happy with someone I’ve been waiting for for a long time. Thanks for another amazing year’ 

Rylan’s fans and celebrity pals including Carol Vorderman, Louise Redknappand Ruth Langsfordshared their appreciation for the star in the comments.

Rylan said: ‘At this time, I’m very happy. Recently, I have gotten into a relationship, and it’s great, and it feels very different to anything I’ve had before, which is a good sign to me.

‘It’s the first person I’ve met in four years that I’ve introduced to my family. I’m happy. I’ve not done probably what I should-slash-did do – which is not really go to restaurants, not really do this and want to keep it on the quiet – I’ve done the opposite.

‘I’ve been so blatant about it no one’s noticed, which I’m sort of a little bit cocky at and I’m going to own.

‘But I thought I’m not going to… just because of my job and i don’t want people finding out, I’m not going to miss out on this part.

‘I’m loving what I’ve got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.’

Later in the chat, Louis gave Rylan advice on a long-lasting relationship, as he revealed that you have to figure things out more when you have children.

‘Is that something you’ve been thinking about?’ Louis asked, to which Rylan replied: ‘Yeah, I want kids. He wants kids.’

Rylan first shared he was in a new relationship on the BBC Radio 2 show last week, after playing a clip from his podcast interview with Louis. 

As the clip came to an end, Lottie cheekily asked him if there was ‘something else’ that was mentioned, sparking a cheeky exchange where Rylan jokingly brushed off his co-host’s questions, before confirming he was indeed seeing someone.

It comes after Rylan revealed that his new boyfriend is the first man he’s introduced to his family since his divorce 

The former X Factor star was married to Dan Neal for six years before they divorced in 2021, after Rylan admitted he had cheated on him (both pictured 2016)

He said: ‘I might have said that I’m… it feels weird saying it on the radio!’ before admitting he’d ‘kept it a secret for so long,’ but he was indeed ‘seeing someone’.

Lottie added that she and her colleagues had met Rylan’s new partner and thought he was ‘lovely’, with the former X Factor star adding he is ‘happy’ and ‘very content’ in his new relationship. 

Rylan also joked that sharing the romance would bring an end to speculation that he was dating his longtime pal Robert Rinder.

The This Morning star is said to have been quietly dating funfair employee Kennedy for several months, and the pair have been ‘inseparable’ over the summer.  

‘This new man has certainly put a smile back on Rylan’s face, and they have enjoyed spending lots of time together,’ a source said.

‘Rylan’s family and friends have all met him, and they’ve been attending lots of gigs together this summer, including Oasis. 

The insider told The Sun on Sunday: ‘They’re inseparable, they make a lovely couple.’ 

The Daily Mail contacted Rylan’s representatives for comment at the time.