Rhian Sugden's Marriage Under Strain Post-Parenthood

Glamour model Rhian Sugden has shared that her marriage to actor Oliver Mellor has faced significant strain since the birth of their son, George, in April 2024. The couple, who welcomed their child after an arduous six-year fertility journey involving eight rounds of IVF and an estimated £150,000, have found the realities of parenthood have altered their relationship.

Sugden, 40, discussed in a recent podcast appearance how the intense IVF process initially strengthened their bond. "The IVF itself made us stronger because we'd had to back each other up," she explained on the Private Parts podcast. However, she admitted that the arrival of their baby has created distance between them.

"The thing that's changed our marriage is having the actual child," Sugden stated. "Like, we're like strangers at the minute. It's hard. Even when we go on holiday, we're not really getting much time alone."

She further revealed that due to their son George's sleep difficulties as an infant, she has resorted to sleeping in George's bedroom, indicating a shift in their personal living arrangements. "George just didn't sleep as a baby, and I was like, I can't do this. Just get him in bed. So we've just bought him a double bed and now I'm in George's bedroom."

Rhian Sugden and former Coronation Street star Oliver Mellor, 45, began their relationship in 2013 and married five years later in Turkey. Their journey to parenthood was widely publicized, with Sugden previously detailing her struggles with low egg count and perimenopausal hormone levels, which gave her only a three percent chance of conceiving naturally.

The couple endured eight rounds of IVF over six years before their final attempt resulted in a successful pregnancy. Mellor described the moment Sugden shared the news of her pregnancy as one of immense joy and relief.

Last month, Mellor marked Sugden's 40th birthday with a public tribute, calling her "the light of our lives" and thanking her for being a "beautiful person and a perfect Mummy."