Coleen Nolan, 61, reveals she initially dismissed toyboy Ryan Brockbank, 46, for being ‘too young’ out of ‘insecurity’

Coleen Nolan has revealed she initially dismissed her toyboy boyfriend Ryan Brockbank of being ‘too young’ for her. 

The TV personality, 61, has been enjoying a romance with the fashion lecturer, 46, for a few months, recently informing her fans that Ryan made the first move in their relationship by sliding into her DM’s on Instagram.

Speaking on Monday’s Loose Women, Coleen shared that their romance almost didn’t happen as she thought their age gap was too much, admitting that it was her own insecurities holding her back. 

After telling how Ryan had initially asked her out for a drink, Coleen ‘didn’t think anything of it’ before he then continued to pursue her and make her laugh, something which the star said was ‘a winner for me’.

As she told how it was really nice having someone to chat to’, Coleen continued: ‘Then it got around to, “Well, how old are you?” and he said, “I’m 46”. I went, “Oh god no. Way too young. Straight away, I said you’re too young.”‘

Coleen went on to discuss her time on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year, telling how she didn’t date anyone younger than 55 due to her own fears.

The TV personality, 61, has been enjoying a romance with the fashion lecturer, 46, for a few months, recently informing her fans that Ryan slid into her DM’s on Instagram

She shared: ‘My own insecurity, really, I thought they wouldn’t fancy me anyway because I’m 61 and I’d wonder why they did.

‘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 of them.

‘It made me realise that when it’s the right one and the real one, all those things don’t matter, you make them work.’ 

Detailing her age gap romance with Ryan, Coleen added that when she informed him he was too young for her, he insisted that it didn’t matter to him. 

She explained: ‘The more we got to know each other, he said, “You might be that in years, but it’s like going out with a kid because you’re like an 18-year-old!”‘

Gushing over her love, she concluded: ‘I think what’s been lovely, I’m saying too much now, it’s taking me 61 [years], and let’s be honest, I’ve had a few relationships and a few relationships. I feel like I’ve gone through all of that to get where I am today, and they’ve sent me the person that I need!’

It comes as Coleen shared how Ryan made his first move after he messaged her asking her out for a drink in May. 

Sharing a screenshot of their first exchange on Instagram message, Ryan wrote: ‘Hey. Hope you are having a great weekend. Drink?’

Speaking on Monday’s Loose Women, Coleen shared that their romance almost didn’t happen as she thought their age gap was too much, admitting that it was her own insecurities holding her back

‘Then it got around to, “Well, how old are you?” and he said, “I’m 46”. I went, “Oh god no. Way too young. Straight away, I said you’re too young.”‘

Coleen replied simply with a red love heart emoji, but Ryan was undeterred by her lack of conversation as he continued and asked whether she was watching Eurovision.

The pair then began their flirty exchange as 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’s going’ with a selfie of him and Coleen. 

And things appear to be going well with Coleen confessing she is ready to walk down the aisle for a third time after finding love with Ryan. 

In an episode of Coleen’s podcast Nolans Uncensored last month, the smitten star admitted she was ready to get married again, which came as a shock to her daughter, Ciara, 25.

As talk turned to Ciara’s upcoming wedding, Coleen’s daughter turned to her mum and revealed ‘she wants to get married now. She’s on her third wedding.’

‘I always said I wouldn’t get married again but I hadn’t met Ryan,’ Coleen admitted. ‘He’s what I have been looking for, for probably 50 years.’

A mortified Ciara interrupted, insisting ‘I actually don’t want to talk about it, it makes me feel a bit sick.’

It comes as Coleen shared how Ryan made his first move after he messaged her asking her out for a drink in May [pictured together]

Sharing a screenshot of their first exchange on Instagram message, Ryan wrote: ‘ Hey. Hope you are having a great weekend. Drink?’ before the flirty exchange began 

‘Don’t worry we won’t gatecrash yours,’ promised Coleen.

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 got matching tattoos with Ryan, as Ciara told listeners ‘she’s lost the plot’.

Ciara said: ‘Mum’s got tattoos. Matching with Ryan! Show them the R and the heart on your t**s.’

Coleen told her: ‘No Ciara.’ 

Ciara then informed listeners: ‘She’s got two tattoos, she’s got an R and a heart and ‘Until the end’ on her forearm. I want to kill myself. She sent it in our group and we all wanted to kill ourselves. We were all texting each other privately going “mum’s lost the plot”. She’s lost her head.’ 

Giggling sheepishly, Coleen replied: ‘I haven’t though, just lost my heart.’

The presenter is thought to have met Ryan after her appearance on Celebs Go Dating, which she previously described as a ‘disaster’. 

Opening up about the rejection she faced she confessed: ‘My ego was on the floor.

‘It was mortifying when people did not put their hands up [if they wanted you]. It was a bit humiliating but you’ve got to take it. It is transparent and you learn along the way.’

Coleen and Ryan are thought to have already enjoyed a romantic getaway together, and Ryan has shared snaps of the star on social media.

Ryan is a lecturer at Fashion Retail Academy – the prestigious fashion school that Molly-Mae Hague attended.

Coleen previously reflected on her failed journey to find love on Celebs Go Dating, telling The Sun: ‘It’s just not happened for me.

‘And then the one time when 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 issue, every date they’ve got me is [from] Essex, I live in bl***y Staffordshire. It’s just too far, so that’s been an issue but there’s just no one with that [romantic spark].

‘But the agents, the therapy has been absolutely brilliant and I think from the start to the end, I’ve massively changed.’