Hannah Waddingham opens up on her new surgeon boyfriend

Hannah Waddingham has opened up about her relationship with Nicolas Beresford-Cleary, a spinal surgeon, saying she waited a long time for the right person.

The 52-year-old actress and singer first confirmed her new romance in May. This marks her first major relationship in eight years following the end of her long-term partnership with Italian hotelier Gianluca Cugnetto.

Speaking to Heat magazine, Waddingham joked that her new partner is "not too shabby" and reflected on the value of patience when looking for true love.

"I mean, he's not too shabby!" she told the publication. "I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the right person."

Waddingham has enjoyed a massive surge in global fame in recent years, largely driven by her Emmy-winning performance as Rebecca Welton in the hit Apple TV comedy series Ted Lasso. The show follows an optimistic American coach managing a British football team, with Waddingham playing the formidable owner of AFC Richmond.

Her portrayal of a woman who initially tries to sabotage her ex-husband's club before finding her own strength resonated deeply with audiences. The role earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Despite her busy schedule, the television star said that people do not need to hurry to find a partner.

"But yeah, you don't have to rush," she said. "Eventually, they'll be along."

Oxford spine surgeon

Beresford-Cleary works as a consultant spine surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of the largest teaching hospital trusts in the United Kingdom.

He also practices at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, London. The facility is an independent charitable hospital famously known for treating senior members of the British royal family, including the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

In his medical practice, Beresford-Cleary specialises in both elective and emergency spinal surgeries. Elective procedures typically address chronic conditions such as herniated discs, while emergency surgeries deal with severe trauma.

The surgeon took an unusual route into the medical profession. He began his higher education by completing a degree in mechanical engineering at University College London, a prestigious research university in the capital.

After deciding to transition into healthcare, he went on to earn a medical degree from Edinburgh University in Scotland. He subsequently completed his specialist trauma and orthopaedic training in Oxford before taking up his current roles.

Life as a single mother

Waddingham became a single mother when her relationship with Cugnetto broke down. The couple had been together for more than a decade and shared a two-year-old daughter, Kitty, at the time of their split.

Cugnetto is an experienced food and beverage director who has managed luxury hotel properties and high-end restaurants around the world.

Following the breakup, the actress focused entirely on raising her child and continuing her demanding stage and screen career. Before her television breakthrough, Waddingham was a veteran of London theatre, starring in major West End musical productions such as Spamalot and The Wizard of Oz.

She also gained a new legion of fans when she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in 2023, winning praise for her energetic presenting style.

Speaking to Women's Health, Waddingham explained why she took an extended break from romantic relationships to concentrate on her daughter.

"It's taken me eight years," she said. "I didn't really have the space mentally or emotionally for that."

"I've hunkered down and focused on my girl and me. But now I'm ready to stick my head above the parapet a bit more."

Finding happiness

When the interviewer suggested she was now looking over a "very good-looking parapet", the actress laughed and agreed.

"It is!" she confirmed. "And it's really lovely too, obviously, my relationship. But the best thing about it is, firstly, being happy and strong in myself."

Waddingham has never publicly stated the specific reasons for her separation from Cugnetto. The pair were widely rumoured to be engaged before the relationship ended.

However, she previously described the emotional toll the split took on her. Speaking to Glamour magazine, she said the breakup "felt like the rug was pulled from underneath me".

"But I had to make the decision not to be weakened by it," she explained.

"I distinctly remember feeling like my daughter and I were on an upturned dustbin lid, like a flying saucer, holding on for dear life until the waters were calmer!"

Despite the difficult period, Waddingham confirmed to the magazine that she was "still on good terms" with her daughter's father as they navigate co-parenting.