Inside Tom Allen's private life including 'Northern Irish TV royalty' relative

Comedian and television presenter Tom Allen has been a beloved presence on our screens for some time.

But the 40-year-old’s fame is only set to soar as he fronts his first documentary for the BBC My Big Gay Wedding.

Tom, who is in a relationship with Alfie Garston, is not arranging his own nupitals but is acting as a wedding planner for a gay couple for the one-off show.

The programme is being aired to mark the 10th anniversary of the law legalising same-sex marriage coming into force in England and Wales.

The fact that same-sex couples couldn’t get married here just 10 years ago means we should never be complacent about the progress we’ve made and so it’s only right to celebrate it thoroughly,’ Tom said.

‘I’m looking forward to making this joyous celebration of love and gay marriage, or garriage as I like to call it.’

Naturally, the 60-minute feature has increased interest in Tom’s own personal life.

Here is everything we know about the TV personality – including his famous relative.

Where has Tom Allen appeared on TV before?

Tom is best known for hosting The Apprentice: You’re Fired and as the former presenter of Bake Off: The Professionals before Stacey Solomon replaced him.

His other TV credits are numerous and include presenting Cooking with the Stars with Emma Willism Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Live at the Apollo.

A frequent guest panel shows, Tom has competed on shows including Richard Osman’s House of Games, QI, Hypothetical, Celebrity Catchphrase and The Crystal Maze.

Tom has also worked as an actor and had smaller roles in film Tamara Drew opposite Gemma Arterton and Starter for 10 alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and James Corden.

Tom is in a relationship with 36-year-old Alfie and the couple live together in Bromley.

According to Alfie’s LinkedIn, he works as a freelance host and performer for the Walt Disney Company and was previously an actor for the Glad Rags Production Company.

Like Tom, Alfie has also dabbled in TV and has been a runner for leading production company Fremantle.

It’s not known how long Tom and Alfie have been together but they were first pictured publicly at Jonathan Ross’ Halloween party in 2022.

Alfie is thought to be Tom’s first boyfriend. In 2019, he told iNews he had never been in a relationship.

‘I used to think that was a bit of a scandal in itself, an unusual thing,’ he said of his single status. ‘But I’ve met more and more people who are like that. There are people who find it very easy to get into relationships and I’ve always just not.

‘Maybe that’s why I like doing stand-up. I have people around me who I love, but ultimately, when you stand up there, you stand up there on your own. So I suppose it lends itself to quite a solitary life.’

The following year Tom told The Guardian he had found it ‘impossible’ to have a ‘meaningful’ long-term relationship.

Tom explained: ‘I, for one, have never been in love and so I feel, “Oh, that’s something else I can’t join in with”.’

How is Tom Allen related to Gloria Hunniford?

Tom discovered he was related to presenter Gloria on the ITV series DNA Journey. two years ago.

The show revealed they are cousins through his mother’s maternal line with Gloria, 83, exclaiming that she was ‘so shocked’ by the news.

Several months later Tom appeared on Lorraine where he spoke about his newly discovered connection.

Recalling the moment he found out Gloria was a cousin, he said: ‘I got this text message saying that I was related to Irish TV royalty and I thought, “Well there’s not many options with that really other than Graham [Norton] or Gloria.” But I was still surprised.’

Gloria then joined via video link from the Loose Women studio and called Tom ‘the loveliest cousin that I’ve just discovered’.

She continued: ‘When somebody says to you on a TV programme we’ve discovered a cousin of yours and he is very well known, you’re like “Who could it be?” Well it turned out to be you Tom.

‘I’m so thrilled and I know we’re going to meet up with your mum soon because your mum comes from Northern Ireland and I’m very much looking forward to that.’

Big Gay Wedding with Tom Allen airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

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