Coleen Nolan has hit back at criticism surrounding her relationship with boyfriend Ryan Brockbank, insisting that the couple are deeply in love despite their 15-year age difference.
The 61-year-old Loose Women panellist discussed their relationship during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, where she also dismissed suggestions that her family had reservations about the romance.
Coleen, who is dating 46-year-old Ryan, told presenters that their relationship was going particularly well and that she had not expected to find love again so soon.
“We are very, very, very much together, and very much in love,” she said.
She explained that she had almost given up on finding a partner after appearing on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year and had decided against returning to dating applications.
However, she said she believed that if a relationship was meant to happen, it would eventually come along.
Family Has Welcomed Ryan Into Their Lives
During the interview, presenter Ed Balls asked whether Ryan had received approval from Coleen’s family.
The television personality confirmed that her relatives had welcomed him and that they got along well with her boyfriend.
She said having her family approve of Ryan was particularly important to her but took issue with the way the age difference had been described.
Coleen pointed out that Ryan was 14 years younger than her, rather than 20 years younger, as some discussions about their relationship had suggested.
When asked whether she considered him her “toyboy”, she accepted the description, adding that she had also been labelled a “cougar”.
She also dismissed reports suggesting that friends were worried about the relationship or that the couple were planning to travel to Las Vegas.
How Coleen and Ryan First Met
Coleen revealed that their relationship began when Ryan contacted her through social media after watching her appearance on Celebs Go Dating.
According to the presenter, Ryan had never previously watched the programme but happened to see an episode featuring her.
He subsequently sent her a message after deciding that he liked what he saw.
Although Coleen admitted that she rarely engages in lengthy conversations with strangers online, their communication continued beyond the initial exchange.
She explained that their connection developed almost immediately, despite her initial reservations about his age.
Coleen Opens Up About Plans to Leave Her Farm
The relationship has also coincided with major changes to Coleen’s living arrangements.
Last month, it was reported that the television personality was preparing to sell her six-acre countryside farm in Dilhorne, Staffordshire Moorlands, and relocate to London to be closer to Ryan.
She also revealed that she was making arrangements to rehome her farm animals as she prepared to downsize.
Coleen explained that meeting Ryan had made the prospect of starting a new chapter considerably easier because she had found someone she wanted to share the experience with.
She said there was nobody else she would rather embark on the new adventure with, describing the relationship as an opportunity to begin another stage of her life with someone special.
Couple Seal Their Romance With Matching Tattoos
Coleen and Ryan have also marked their relationship with matching tattoos bearing the words “UNTIL THE END”.
The presenter first revealed the matching ink during an appearance on Loose Women in September, showing her co-stars the tattoo on her right arm.
She explained that Ryan, who already has several tattoos, had suggested getting matching designs together.
Although he initially appeared to be testing her reaction, Coleen said she quickly agreed to the idea.
She subsequently explained that the tattoo represented her commitment to the relationship and her desire to remain with Ryan for the rest of her life.
Coleen also revealed that her children were surprised when they discovered the matching tattoos.
However, she defended her decision, saying she was now in her 60s and intended to enjoy her life and make her own choices.
She added that her children were grown up and had families of their own, giving her the opportunity to concentrate on her personal happiness.
Daughter Ciara Reacts to Her Mother’s Tattoos
Coleen’s matching tattoos also became a topic of conversation on the podcast she presents with her daughter Ciara.
During the episode, Ciara revealed that her mother had got tattoos matching Ryan’s, joking that she had “lost the plot”.
She also mentioned another tattoo featuring the letter R and a heart, alongside the “Until the end” inscription on Coleen’s forearm.
Ciara said she and her siblings had exchanged private messages about their mother’s decision, expressing their disbelief at the matching designs.
Coleen responded to her daughter’s remarks by joking that she had not lost her mind but had simply lost her heart.
Coleen Admits She Initially Rejected Ryan Because of His Age
Despite how their relationship has developed, Coleen previously admitted on Loose Women that she initially believed Ryan was too young for her.
She recalled that Ryan had first invited her for a drink, but she did not initially take the invitation seriously.
As their conversations continued, he made her laugh and became someone she enjoyed talking to.
However, when they eventually discussed their ages, Ryan revealed that he was 46.
Coleen said her immediate response was to tell him that he was too young for her.
She also explained that her experience on Celebs Go Dating had been shaped by her own insecurities about dating younger men.
At the time, she had avoided dating anyone younger than 55 because she assumed younger men would not be interested in her.
She also had reservations about dating someone with younger children or someone who lived far away.
Ryan, she acknowledged, did not initially fit any of the preferences she had established.
Ryan Convinced Coleen Their Age Difference Was Not an Issue
Coleen said her initial concerns gradually disappeared as she and Ryan became closer.
She recalled that when she told him he was too young for her, he made it clear that their age difference did not bother him.
Ryan reportedly told her that although there was an age difference between them, she behaved like an 18-year-old.
Reflecting on their relationship, Coleen said she believed her previous romantic experiences had helped lead her to the person she was meant to be with.
She admitted that it had taken her 61 years to reach this point and said she felt she had finally found the partner she needed.
