Rose Matafeo, who in September 2026 became the first person to appear in three versions of Taskmaster, has not publicly named a partner, and there is no public record of her being married or having children. Her best-known relationships were with New Zealand comedian Guy Williams and English comedian James Acaster, whom she moved to London to be with in 2015 before they split in 2017.
The Spinoff noted in September 2026 that the Auckland-born comedian had been a contestant on the UK show and hosted Junior Taskmaster before joining season seven of Taskmaster NZ, which ran on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ from 14 September to 13 October 2026. That screen time has Kiwis curious about her private life.
Who is Rose Matafeo’s partner?
As of October 2026, Rose Matafeo has not publicly confirmed a partner. Her September 2026 interview with The Spinoff about joining Taskmaster NZ focused on her work and her friendships with other comedians. She is based in the UK, and nothing reliable has been published about a current partner.
She calls Paul Williams her best friend. Williams created New Zealand Spy, which Matafeo co-wrote and starred in when it screened on TVNZ 2 from 29 April 2026, and Williams was Jeremy Wells’s assistant on her Taskmaster NZ season. Filming with him was one of her main reasons for signing up for the show.
Who has Rose Matafeo dated?
Rose Matafeo’s publicly known dating history includes two comedians. She previously dated New Zealand comedian Guy Williams, and later English stand-up James Acaster, whom she joined in London in 2015. She and Acaster broke up in 2017. No later relationship has been confirmed by a reliable source as of October 2026.
| Partner | Who he is | When | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Williams | NZ comedian, New Zealand Today host | Not public | Ended |
| James Acaster | English comedian, Off Menu co-host | Until 2017 | Ended in 2017 |
| Current partner | Not publicly named | Unknown |
Rose Matafeo and Guy Williams
Guy Williams, born in Christchurch in 1987, co-hosted Jono and Ben until 2018 and has fronted New Zealand Today since 2019. He also competed in the first season of Taskmaster NZ in 2020. Matafeo previously dated him.
Who is James Acaster?
James Acaster is an English stand-up comedian born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on 9 January 1985. He co-hosts the food podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble, which began in December 2018, and made the four-part Netflix special Repertoire. His tour Hecklers Welcome won the 2024 Chortle Award for Best Tour.
Why did Rose Matafeo move to London?
Rose Matafeo moved to London in 2015 because her then-boyfriend, English comedian James Acaster, lived there. In London she shared a flat with comedian Nish Kumar, and she has been based in the UK ever since, though she returned to New Zealand to film New Zealand Spy and Taskmaster NZ.
She summed up the move for The Spinoff in 2022. “I’ve moved countries for a boy.” She added, “I know many people who moved countries or stayed in a country for a guy or a gal.”
What happened with Rose Matafeo and James Acaster?
Rose Matafeo and James Acaster broke up in 2017, about two years after she moved to London to live with him. The reason for the split has not been made public. Both have kept working in British comedy, and Matafeo talked about the relationship and Nish Kumar flat-share on RNZ in 2022.
What has Rose Matafeo said about dating?
Rose Matafeo jokes about dating but rarely names anyone. On RNZ’s Saturday Morning in February 2022 she said, “I’ve been on record as saying no-one should ever go out with a comedian – including myself – I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Speaking to NME in January 2021, she said, “I literally tried to get one date in five months in Auckland, and I couldn’t,” because “everyone in Auckland has a partner already, so there’s nobody to date.”
Talking to The Spinoff about Starstruck in 2022, she said being single was “massively helpful because I’m in a neutral state” while writing a romantic comedy, and that she will never stop having crushes. “I’ll be 60 and I’ll still have crushes on people. Honest to god, I will never stop.”
Is Rose Matafeo married?
No. As of October 2026 there is no public record of Rose Matafeo being married, and she has never referred to a husband in interviews. Searches for “Rose Matafeo husband” or “Rose Matafeo spouse” most likely come from her on-screen romances, such as Starstruck, and from her long-running creative partnerships rather than a real wedding.
Does Rose Matafeo have children?
No children have been announced for Rose Matafeo as of October 2026. Searches for “Rose Matafeo baby” often trace back to the 2020 New Zealand film Baby Done, directed by Curtis Vowell, in which she plays Zoe, a young pregnant woman.
The comedians she is often linked with
Several comedians whose names appear alongside Matafeo’s in searches are creative partners and close friends, not romantic partners. These are the ones people ask about most, from her Starstruck co-writer to her first London flatmate, with how each of them knows and works with her.
- Alice Snedden co-wrote all three series of Starstruck (2021–2023) with Matafeo, and the two host the podcast Boners of the Heart.
- Guy Montgomery took a two-person show, Rose Matafeo and Guy Montgomery Are Friends, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015.
- Paul Williams is her best friend. He created New Zealand Spy (TVNZ 2, 2026), which she co-wrote, and was Jeremy Wells’s assistant on Taskmaster NZ season seven.
- Nikesh Patel starred opposite her as Tom in Starstruck.
- Nish Kumar was her flatmate when she first moved to London.
Matafeo grew up in Ponsonby, Auckland, with her parents, John Matafeo and Diane Vuletich, and two older brothers. She is among the famous New Zealanders who have built careers in British comedy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rose Matafeo single?
She has not publicly named a partner as of October 2026, so her relationship status is not public.
Who is Rose Matafeo dating now?
No current partner has been confirmed by a reliable source. Her past relationships were with comedians Guy Williams and James Acaster.
Did Rose Matafeo date James Acaster?
Yes. She moved to London in 2015 to be with the English comedian, and they broke up in 2017.
Who is Rose Matafeo married to?
Nobody, as far as the public record shows. No marriage has been announced or reported.
Does Rose Matafeo have kids?
No children have been announced. Baby Done (2020) is a film in which she plays a pregnant woman.
