Ex-England star pokes fun at Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates live on air after BBC no-show

Chris Sutton was quick to ask questions over the absences of Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club as rumours swirl that the pair are dating.

The duo have become part of the Match of the Day host rota, also involving Gabby Logan, and have reportedly struck up a romance away from the cameras.

Chapman has been a regular on various BBC shows for years but was absent for the show on Monday night and Cates – who would serve as an occasional stand-in host – also did not feature.

It meant Alistair Bruce-Ball jumped in as stand-in presenter, but Sutton was quick to divert the conversation to those who weren't on air. Bruce-Ball said: "Chris Sutton has got a rather mischievous look on his face this evening, which worries me slightly."

Sutton responded: "I just wondered where our leader is this evening, where's Mark?' with Bruce-Ball replying: "Mark Chapman… Not here this evening'."

Sutton then quickly responded: "So then normally second in charge is Kelly Cates... where's Kelly Cates this evening?"

Bruce-Ball replied: "I don't know Chris, otherwise engaged I think. If they are not listening to the show, whatever they are up to, it is available to listen by the podcast, if that is what they want to do."

Cates was missing as she was hosting the Legends of Football awards, which saw Thierry Henry and Karen Carney pick up accolades.

Chapman was married to his wife Sara, the mother of their three children, for 19 years until she died aged 44 in 2020 after a battle with cancer.

Back in 2024 it was revealed that Chapman had begun dating again and was in a relationship with estate agent and socialite Clere Collier, but the pair split in April this year.

Cates, daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, was married to TV producer Tom Cates from 2007 until their divorce in 2021 and has been open about her fearing of re-entering the love scene.