Nigel Farage has been a constant in British public life for more than three decades. Beyond his political persona, this article looks at what is publicly known about his private life.
Early background and education
Born in Kent in 1964, Farage attended Dulwich College, an independent school in South London. His father, Guy Justus Oscar Farage, worked as a stockbroker; his mother, Barbara Stevens, managed the household. After leaving school in 1982, he began a career in the City of London trading commodities.
Marriage and family
Farage married Gráinne Hayes in 1988; they had two sons and later divorced. In 1999 he married Kirsten Mehr, a German national, and they have two daughters. Farage has said he tries to keep his family out of the political spotlight.
Relationship with Laure Ferrari
Farage has also been linked publicly with Laure Ferrari, a French political activist and former parliamentary aide. The two first met while she was working with members of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament, where Farage was co-chair. Ferrari later directed the Institute for Direct Democracy in Europe (IDDE), a think-tank connected with UKIP’s European allies.
Reports of their friendship and later relationship have appeared periodically in British and French media since 2014. Both have consistently said they are close but private about personal matters. Farage has told reporters that he considers Ferrari “a long-time friend and colleague,” while declining to comment further on private life. (BBC, Jan 2016; The Independent, Jul 2015)
Ferrari herself has worked in European politics and media circles and has occasionally commented publicly on democratic reform and EU institutions, maintaining a low profile outside that field. Press accounts emphasise that both figures keep the personal aspects of their relationship out of formal political activity.
Health and accidents
Farage has spoken publicly about his 1985 cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery, describing both the failings and the lifesaving aspects of the NHS in his autobiography. He also survived a serious car crash in 1985 and a 2010 light-aircraft crash during a campaign event.
Hobbies, persona, and media image
He is known for his fondness for traditional pubs, fishing, and cricket — features that reinforce his image as an everyman politician. Supporters view this as authenticity; critics see calculated branding.
Public scrutiny and privacy boundaries
Farage has often criticised intrusion into politicians’ private lives, urging the press to focus on policy. Most reputable outlets report only information he has placed on record himself.
Final thoughts
Nigel Farage’s private life remains largely off limits by design. The facts available — family, health, and hobbies — are those he has chosen to discuss. In an age of relentless exposure, his selective openness has become part of the persona that keeps him both familiar and elusive.
