Actor Ryan Thomas has celebrated his daughter Scarlett’s 18th birthday with an elaborate family gathering at Louis Restaurant in Manchester, sharing photographs and details of the occasion on Instagram on Tuesday.
Scarlett, whose mother is Coronation Street actress Tina O’Brien, turned 18 on October 26, 2026. Her father marked the milestone with a celebration featuring champagne, a themed birthday cake and cash presented as part of the surprise.
Ryan shared a tribute to his daughter, writing: “Happy 18th Angel a night we will never forget.”
Birthday Girl Receives Cash Hidden Inside Special Cake
Scarlett’s birthday cake featured pink icing, decorative embellishments and Polaroid photographs of the teenager arranged on top. The cake also contained bundles of £20 notes, which were revealed when she pulled out one of the photographs.
The celebration had a BuzzBall theme, with Scarlett referring to the drinks in a post on her own Instagram account.
“Octobers all about me coz your turn should’ve been over! 26/10/26 I’m 18 b****essssss we got buzzballs swimming in our tummy,” she wrote.
For the occasion, Scarlett wore a sheer black lace bodysuit over a black bra, paired with a black skirt featuring a high split and stiletto heels.
Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan’s Brothers Join the Celebration
Ryan’s partner, Lucy Mecklenburgh, attended the gathering and posed for photographs with Scarlett. Mecklenburgh wore a black-and-grey checked blouse.
Ryan’s brothers, Adam and Scott Thomas, were also present at the Italian American restaurant. Scarlett shared photographs with her uncle Adam and his wife, Caroline, as well as her grandmother Gail.
The family gathering brought together relatives to celebrate Scarlett reaching adulthood.
Ryan Announces Daughter’s Debut Single
The birthday celebration comes after Ryan revealed that Scarlett is preparing to release her first single, titled Onesie, on Spotify and Apple Music.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Thomas Brothers podcast with Adam and Scott, Ryan explained that Scarlett had taken responsibility for several aspects of the music video accompanying the track.
He said she had produced and directed the video, selected locations, involved friends and filmed and edited the footage using her phone.
Ryan also said he had provided her with a car so she could travel around Manchester to film at different locations.
“I’m like, that’s magic,” he said, describing the work she had completed independently.
Adam praised his niece’s efforts, noting that she had been 17 while undertaking the project and had already organised her own concert.
Ryan Says Scarlett Has Worked Hard to Pursue Music
Ryan said he was proud of the effort Scarlett had put into developing her music career, including meeting deadlines and working with her management team.
He said people sometimes assumed that performing was simply a matter of getting on stage and singing, but that Scarlett had taken on considerable work behind the scenes.
Ryan added that she had found something she was passionate about and was now preparing to share her work with a wider audience.
Scott also praised the teenager’s achievements during the podcast discussion.
Scarlett Previously Explained Decision to Skip GCSE Exams
Scarlett attracted attention earlier in the year after revealing that she had not sat her GCSE examinations because she wanted to pursue opportunities in music and acting.
When other students received their results, she posted a message reflecting on the qualifications she might have achieved.
“Watching everyone get their GCSE results today wondering if I could’ve had good results but I will forever wonder,” she wrote, adding a message congratulating students on their results.
Her decision prompted mixed reactions online. Some social media users questioned why she had not taken the examinations, while others offered encouragement and said exam results did not determine a person’s future.
GCSEs are not compulsory under English law, although qualifications in English and mathematics are commonly required for further education courses and many jobs.
Scarlett Has Defended Her Acting Opportunities
Scarlett made her television debut in 2023, appearing in the BBC school drama Waterloo Road as Izzy. Her mother, Tina O’Brien, publicly praised her performance and said she was proud of the work she had put into the role.
Tina wrote that she had enjoyed watching her daughter’s portrayal of the character and noted that Scarlett had been nominated for an award by TV Times.
Scarlett has also responded to criticism suggesting that her family connections helped her secure acting opportunities.
“You only got those opportunities because of your family,” she wrote in a previous post, before adding: “God forbid a girl takes the chances she gets.”
The teenager is now preparing to release her debut single while continuing to pursue her entertainment career.
