Louise Redknapp makes her first public appearance with new boyfriend Drew Michael as they attend Jimmy Carr’s 51st birthday bash

Monday evening was special for reasons that had nothing to do with Jimmy Carr as Louise Redknapp made her first public appearance with new boyfriend Drew Michael. 

The singer, single following her divorce from ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp in 2017, was joined by Drew as they left close friend Carr’s 51st birthday party in London. 

Dressed in a black bomber jacket, leather boots and matching skirt, Louise, 48, looked typically stylish as they made their way towards a waiting car. 

At one point the singer appeared to lag behind as Drew, who looked relaxed in a navy blue top and matching jeans, charged ahead of his new girlfriend. 

He is understood to be a former military officer who now runs a drone manufacturing company – a far cry from Louise’s high-profile circle of celebrity friends.  

The singer recently admitted she was ‘open’ to meeting someone, but insisted dating wasn’t her number one priority. 

She told The Sun: ‘I’m just open to what may happen, I’m not actively out there looking, it’s not my number-one goal in life.

‘But, if it goes that way and I met somebody who swept me off my feet and was amazing and kind and great, then I’d be so open to exploring that, but no, I’m not downloading apps, well, not at the minute.’

Louise said she wouldn’t date someone just for the ‘sake of it’ and insisted she would be open about her love life if she did meet the right person.

She added: ‘If I did meet that great person, I would never hide it, if they are right, they are right, and I would be the first to embrace it and share it.’

Louise and former footballer Jamie split in 2017 after 19 years of marriage. The couple share sons Charley, 18, and Beau, 14.

Sports pundit Jamie went on to marry model Frida Andersson, 38, in October 2021 and the pair welcomed their first child, son Raphael, together the following month.

Frida and Jamie share seven children between them, with the model also mother to four children with her ex-husband, American hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie.

Last summer, Louise told how her ex’s new marriage impacted their two sons as she told how she had ‘held off’ dating. 

Speaking to HELLO!, Louise confessed their split and Jamie’s new marriage have had a lasting impact on their sons.

‘I’ve felt this as a mum and, to say this in the most sort of respectful way, my boys’ lives changed dramatically and then it changed again when obviously Jamie got married and had a family,’ she said.

Explaining why she hasn’t dated recently, Louise pointed out: ‘Their life changed and I felt like I needed to be their one staple.’

Louise rose to fame as a member of girl band Eternal after they released their debut album Always & Forever in 1994.

She went on to pursue a solo career during which she sold five million records in the UK and 15 million worldwide.