This is the hunky fairground showman who has captured the heart of Rylan Clark.
Dazzling Kennedy Bates, 47, who is 11 years older than the popular TV and radio presenter, comes from generations of travelling funfair showmen and firmly believes in hard graft and family values.
It is easy to see why handsome Kennedy, with his mop of curly dark hair, chiselled features and outgoing, sunny personality, caught divorced Rylan’s eye.
Kennedy is part of the successful Leicestershire-based fun fair giant Billy Bates & Sons, a family business spanning seven generations, and has spoken warmly of the rich and colourful life he had growing up moving around the Midlands with the fair.
His first steps into life as a ‘showman’ – which he calls himself on company documents – was aged just 11 when he started selling balloons at the fair.
He said on the fair’s Facebook page: ‘We are all very proud of our Leicester roots.
‘My brother James and I often say how we feel like we grew up in every part of Leicester.
‘We had friends in every estate and we would look forward to seeing them each year when the fair moved back into their area.
Rylan Clark is said to be ‘smitten’ with his new boyfriend Kennedy Bates (left) who at 47 is 11 years his senior. Kennedy runs a fairground business with his family based in Leicester
Kennedy who, juding by his social media posts, is a charismatic chap, has captured the heart of popular BBC Radio 2 host Rylan who told of their budding romance in a recent interview
Rylan’s new man Kennedy is a popular figure with his fairground firm – and is pictured on the company’s social media with the likes of ex-Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy
Kennedy is part of the successful Leicestershire-based fun fair giant Billy Bates & Sons, a family business spanning seven generations
Kennedy speaks on social media about the importantance of hard work and the family values his funfair business cherishes – and what he has learned from his father and grandfather
‘We are very grateful for the support we receive from the people of Leicester and proud to have been a part of their community for such a long time.’
He enthusiastically posts photos and videos on the fun fair’s Facebook page, and is often seen grinning and joking with younger workers and fans.
He boldly states his approach to life: ‘Where would we be without the hard work, love and lessons learned from our fathers and grandfathers.’
In a page entitled ‘Legacy’ he says: The Bates family have been proudly passing down the knowledge and experience of the fairground industry for seven generations.
‘During this time many things have changed and many unique stories have been shared.
‘From wartime stories of fairs that operated in complete darkness, to my great grandfather, (the late George Bates) and his ‘pony-driven’ carousel, which had no motors, and just a horse that pulled the carousel around as it trotted along on the inside of the ride.’
The social media posts show Kennedy rubbing shoulders with celebrities at the fairground, that this year is working to raise funds for Rainbows Children’s Hospice.
With Rylan, 36, admitting that the pair had already discussed having children together – a source told Daily Mail that the presenter is ‘smitten’ with his new man.
The star had been keeping his new man a secret despite the pair enjoying a string of public dates over the summer together, including going to an Oasis gig.
But he let slip he had a boyfriend while speaking on a podcast last week.
It is his first serious romance in four years following his bitter breakup with ex-husband Dan Neal, and their divorce in 2021 after a six-year marriage with the X Factor star admitting he cheated on him.
But now the Daily Mail can reveal exactly who the colourful character is and share delightful photos of the ‘Showman’ doing the job he loves.
Rylan announced the new romance as he interviewed star Louis Theroux on his How To Be In Love podcast, which has documented his mission to find love.
The TV presenter and BBC Radio 2 host gushed: ‘I’m loving what I’ve got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.’
He said the pair had even discussed having children, with Rylan telling Louis both he and his new man want kids.
Rylan revealed he had been ‘blatant’ about the romance, heading on multiple public dates with the man but ‘nobody noticed’.
He added: ”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.’
The pair have even discussed having children, with Rylan telling Louis both he and his new man want kids.
And the star has introduced Kennedy to his beloved mum Linda and other family members.
Rylan announced the new romance as he interviewed star Louis Theroux on his How To Be In Love podcast, which has documented his mission to find love
The X Factor star and presenter, 36, was married to his ex-husband Dan Neal (pictured in 2016) for six years before they divorced in 2021 after Rylan admitted he cheated on him
Rylan, who is fronting the second series of Dancing Naked UK on Paramount Plus, added: ”I’m loving what I’ve got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.’
Kennedy, who turns 48 in December, speaks passionately about family influence and hard work, and is proud of his roots in the Midlands city of Leicester.
The fair was founded by his great grandfather, the late George Bates, with his grandad Walter and dad Billy and he and brother James following in their footsteps.’
He posted in June 2023: ‘For six generations the Bates family legacy has been built on learning from father to son, so today we give thanks , love and appreciation, to the big boss!’
Since then, another generation has become involved.
Kennedy, who is Director of Rides, appears hugely popular among his workers and during the fun fair season crowns an ‘Employee of the Week.’
The family has been operating fun fairs and amusements for over 100 years in and around Leicester.
In recent years the business has expanded, and supplies attractions at some of the country’s biggest outdoor festivals, film and TV work, corporate parties and various councils for town centre events.
Kennedy, giving a glimpse into his family’s life, recalled on the fair’s social media page his dad’s first memorable ‘job,’ saying it was selling wooden balls for a coconut shy at the tender age of 6.
He said: ‘It was 7 balls for a shilling!’ (5p today)
He continued: ‘My starting point in the business was very similar to my dad’s, I was just 11 years old when I started selling balloons at the fair.
‘It wasn’t quite as young as my dad when he started but it was still a big responsibility for a kid. Looking back now I realise that this was the perfect way for me to learn the ropes in the business and more importantly how to speak to customers and gain confidence.’
‘While today’s business has evolved greatly since the days of steam engines and pony driven rides we feel that the core structure that makes our company successful will stay the same.
‘Because there is no substitute for experience.’
‘They’re inseparable.They make a lovely couple.’
Kennedy also works to raise funds for local charities and businesses through the funfair – which has been in his family for more than 100 years
This year, all of the revenue that the fairground generates on TikTok is being donated to Rainbows Children’s Hospice (pictured with Antony Costa and Sam Bailey)
Kennedy has been dating Rylan for a while and went with him to a recent Oasis concert – but their budding relationship appeared to go unnoticed until Rylan let slip in a recent podcast
Kennedy is pictured here with his father, Billy. Billy’s father Walter Bates was one of the first Showmen to introduce Free Days at the fair – when underprivileged children for free rides
‘Kennedy, who used to man the waltzers, is now one of the top dogs at Billy Bates & Sons funfair in Leicester.’
Rylan, on his recent podcast, was given advice by Louis Theroux, on a long-lasting relationship as he revealed that you have to figure things out more when you have children.
Louis asked Rylan: ‘Is that something you’ve been thinking about?’ And he replied: ‘Yeah I want kids. He wants kids.’
Rylan first shared he was in a new relationship on his BBC Radio 2 show last week, after playing a clip from his podcast interview with Louis
He said he’d ‘kept it a secret for so long’ but he is ‘seeing someone.’
He didn’t name Kennedy but simply said they he was ‘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.
