Coleen Nolan, 61, has publicly confirmed her relationship with her new partner, Ryan Brockbank, who is reportedly in his late forties. The Loose Women star's newfound openness to dating younger men stems from her participation in the E4 show "Celebs Go Dating," where she was introduced to younger suitors.
Sources indicate that Nolan and Brockbank have been dating discreetly for several months. A significant step in their relationship occurred during a week-long romantic getaway in East Sussex last month, which sources say convinced Nolan that the relationship was progressing positively. "Coleen is really happy. Her and Ryan have a lot of fun together, they make each other laugh a lot," a source told the Daily Mail. "She was introduced to younger guys while taking part in Celebs Go Dating and it really opened her eyes to having a different kind of relationship."
Nolan had joined "Celebs Go Dating" with the stated intention of finding love. Although her pairings on the show did not result in a lasting romance, the experience appears to have broadened her perspective on relationships. She officially announced her relationship with Brockbank on Instagram, sharing a photo of the couple with a red heart emoji.
Hints of the new relationship surfaced during an episode of Nolan's YouTube show "Nolans Uncensored" in mid-July, where her children referred to a mysterious "Ryan." Nolan later confirmed their connection when she humorously stated she would sing Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life" to Ryan.
Brockbank works as a lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy in London, an institution also attended by Molly-Mae Hague before her rise to fame. Nolan's new relationship coincides with a period of renewed confidence for the presenter, following a significant weight loss of three-and-a-half stone, dropping from a size 20 to a size 14. Friends suggest this transformation, combined with her new romance, has boosted her self-esteem.
Nolan's romantic history includes a public split from actor Shane Richie in 1997 and a divorce from musician Ray Fensome after more than a decade of marriage. She was also previously in a relationship with Michael Jones, whom she met on Tinder. While "Celebs Go Dating" did not yield the romantic outcome she sought, the experience seemingly clarified her desires for a partner.