Coleen Nolan, 61, has embarked on a new relationship with Ryan Brockbank, 41, after her appearance on the E4 reality show "Celebs Go Dating." While the show did not result in finding a lasting partner for Nolan during filming, sources suggest the experience of being paired with younger men opened her eyes to "a different kind of relationship."
Nolan and Brockbank have reportedly been dating for several months. A romantic week spent together in East Sussex last month appears to have solidified their connection. "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."
The presenter officially announced her relationship with Brockbank on Instagram, sharing a photo with him accompanied by his initial and a red heart emoji. This public declaration followed weeks of speculation, including references to a "Ryan" during an episode of her YouTube show "Nolans Uncensored."
Brockbank works as a lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy in London, an institution previously attended by Molly-Mae Hague. Nolan's newfound confidence is also attributed to a significant personal achievement: losing three-and-a-half stone earlier this year. Friends report that this transformation, combined with her new relationship, has left her feeling better than ever.
Nolan's journey on "Celebs Go Dating" initially aimed to find her a life partner. Despite the show's premise, none of her matched dates led to a long-term romance. However, the experience seems to have been a catalyst for her to re-evaluate her relationship preferences.
Past relationships for Nolan include a high-profile split from EastEnders actor Shane Richie in 1997. She shares two sons with Richie. Her second marriage to musician Ray Fensome also ended in divorce; they have one daughter together. More recently, she was in a relationship with Michael Jones, whom she met on Tinder.