Coleen Nolan has revealed she initially rejected her toyboy boyfriend Ryan Brockbank because he was ‘too young’ for her.
The TV personality, 61, has been enjoying a romance with the fashion teacher, 46, for a few months and recently told her fans that Ryan had made the first move in their relationship by sneaking into her DMs on Instagram.
Coleen revealed on Monday’s Loose Women that their romance almost didn’t happen because she thought their age difference was too big, and admitted it was her own insecurities that were holding her back.
After recounting how Ryan initially asked her for a drink, Coleen “thought nothing of it” before he then continued to chase her down and make her laugh, something the star said was “a winner for me”.
Talking about how nice it was to have someone to talk to, Coleen continued: “Then it came to the question, ‘Well, how old are you?’ and he said, “I’m 46.” I said, “Oh god no. Way too young. I immediately said you’re too young.”
Coleen discussed her time on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year and opened up about how she wouldn’t date anyone under 55 due to her own fears.
Coleen Nolan has revealed she initially rejected her toyboy boyfriend Ryan Brockbank because he was ‘too young’ for her
The TV personality, 61, has been enjoying a romance with the fashion teacher, 46, for a few months and recently told her fans that Ryan had slid into her DMs on Instagram
She said: ‘My own insecurity, actually, I thought they wouldn’t like me anyway because I’m 61 and I would wonder why they did that.
“So there was that insecurity, I didn’t want anyone with younger kids because I’ve been through the kid thing, and I didn’t want anyone who lived miles away, and he’s all three.
“It made me realize that if it’s the right one and the real one, all those things don’t matter, you make them work.”
Coleen explained her age gap romance with Ryan, adding that when she told him he was too young for her, he insisted he didn’t care.
She explained, “The more we got to know each other, he said, ‘You might be in a few years, but it’s like dating a kid because you’re like an 18-year-old!’
Gushing about her love, she concluded: ‘I think it was beautiful, I say too much now, it costs me 61 [years]and let’s face it, I’ve been in a few relationships and a few relationships. I feel like I’ve been through all this to get where I am today, and they sent me the person I need!’
It comes as Coleen told how Ryan made his first move after messaging her in May to ask her out for drinks.
Ryan shared a screenshot of their first exchange on Instagram, writing: ‘Hi. I hope you have a great weekend. Drink?’
Coleen revealed on Monday’s Loose Women that their romance almost didn’t happen because she thought their age difference was too big, and admitted it was her own insecurities that were holding her back.
‘Then it came to the question, “Well, how old are you?” and he said, “I’m 46.” I said, “Oh god no. Way too young. I immediately said you’re too young.”
Coleen simply replied with a red love heart emoji, but Ryan was undeterred by her lack of conversation as he continued and asked if she was watching Eurovision.
The pair then started their flirty chat when Coleen replied: ‘Don’t lie, I bet you’re watching it.’
After Ryan posted the screenshot, he wrote: “How it started…” before adding “How it goes” with a selfie of him and Coleen.
And things seem to be going well as Coleen confesses she’s ready to walk down the aisle for a third time after finding love with Ryan.
In an episode of Coleen’s podcast Nolans Last month, the smitten star admitted uncensored that she was ready to get married again, which came as a shock to her daughter, Ciara, 25.
As the conversation turned to Ciara’s upcoming wedding, Coleen’s daughter turned to her mother and revealed ‘she wants to get married now. She’s at her third wedding.’
“I always said I wouldn’t get married again, but I hadn’t met Ryan,” Coleen admitted. “He’s what I’ve been looking for, probably for fifty years.”
A mortified Ciara interrupted, insisting, “I don’t really want to talk about it, it’s making me a little sick.”
It comes as Coleen told how Ryan made his first move after messaging her in May to ask her out for drinks [pictured together]
Ryan shared a screenshot of their first exchange on Instagram, writing, “Hey. I hope you have a great weekend. Drink?’ before the flirty exchange began
“Don’t worry, we won’t invade yours,” Coleen promised.
Coleen was previously married to actor Shane Richie from 1990 to 1999 and had two sons, Shane, 37, and Jake, 33.
She welcomed Ciara with ex-husband Ray Fensome, whom she was married to from 2007 to 2018.
Last week the star revealed she had matching tattoos with Ryan, while Ciara told listeners ‘she’s lost the plot’.
Ciara said, “Mom has tattoos. Matching with Ryan! Show them the R and the heart on your tits.”
Coleen told her, “No Ciara.”
Ciara then told listeners, “She has two tattoos, she has an R and a heart and ‘Until the End’ on her forearm.” I want to commit suicide. She sent it to our group and we all wanted to kill ourselves. We all texted each other privately and said, “Mom has lost the plot.” She’s lost her head.’
Giggling sheepishly, Coleen replied: “I didn’t, I just lost my heart.”
The presenter is said to have met Ryan after her appearance on Celebs Go Dating, which she previously described as a ‘disaster’.
She talked about the rejection she faced: “My ego was on the floor.
“It was scary when people didn’t raise their hands [if they wanted you]. It was a bit humiliating, but you have to accept it. It is transparent and you learn as you go.’
It is believed that Coleen and Ryan have already enjoyed a romantic getaway together, with Ryan sharing photos of the star on social media.
Ryan is a teacher at the Fashion Retail Academy – the prestigious fashion school that Molly-Mae Haag attended.
Coleen previously reflected on her failed journey to find love on Celebs Go Dating, telling The Sun: ‘For me it just didn’t happen.
“And then, that one time I thought, ‘Oh, I had a great date,’ he got rid of me. I think we both knew it was a friendship thing.
“But here’s my problem: that goes for every date they have for me [from] Essex, I live in beautiful Staffordshire. It’s just too far, so that was a problem, but there’s just no one with that [romantic spark].
‘But the officers and the therapy were absolutely brilliant and I think I changed so much from the beginning to the end.’
