They were spotted house-hunting last week, and friends say Kerry Katona and Ryan Mahoney are eyeing up a “marital home”, as Ryan reportedly has plans to propose.
The couple – who have been dating for over two years – moved into a rented home together shortly before lockdown, with Kerry admitting it was a “fresh start” after the trauma of her third marriage to the late George Kay.
Despite having ended things with Ryan, 31, four months into their relationship in 2018 after becoming scared of “getting too close”, friends say the pair’s relationship has strengthened through isolation – although insiders say Kerry, 39, is still secretly “torn” over the idea of a fourth marriage.
The source explains, “Kerry loves Ryan to bits and the last three months have only underlined to her what an amazing bloke he is. They have a fabulous life and he’s great with the kids. She says she has finally found the right man and he feels the same about her. Ryan is a mature soul and desperately wants to get married, but of course for Kerry, she’s been there, done that and got three T-shirts!
“She already thought she’d found her happy-ever-after on three occasions, and it never worked out. So of course she’s a bit scared at how marriage may change the dynamics of a relationship, and wonders if she’d be silly to rock the boat when they’re so happy as they are.
“Kerry’s in the best place she’s ever been in – mentally, physically and in her family life – and a lot of that is down to Ryan. Her biggest fear is their happiness ending, and she can’t figure out if getting married will risk that, or if it’ll mean she will never have to go through heartache again. It’s a dilemma.”
The former Atomic Kitten singer first walked down the aisle with Westlife’s Brian McFadden in 2002. After having daughters Molly, now 18, and Lilly-Sue, 17, Kerry was “shattered” when Brian cheated and dumped her in 2005. She’s even admitted that she begged him to take her back the night before her second husband, Mark Croft, proposed two years later.
She said, “He was the love of my life, Brian. I’m not going to deny it. It was the first time I had a baby with somebody, the first time I got married. It’s all the firsts.”
But after Brian rejected her plea, she married cabbie Mark and had Heidi, 13, and Max, 12, with him. She revealed they’d eloped to Gretna Green to get married when she was at “her lowest-ever point in life” – and it later emerged that Mark had blown her fortune.
Kerry finally thought she had found lasting love with rugby star George Kay after tying the knot in 2014, but she’s since confessed it was a toxic romance. When they split in 2014, it was the catalyst for Kerry to finally seek therapy, admitting it helped her overhaul her life and outlook. Tragically, George – dad to their daughter DJ, five – died of a drugs overdose in 2019.
Now clean and sober, Kerry – who last week posed topless in a bath for her X-rated OnlyFans account – admitted she still bears scars of her past marriages.
During a stint on Celebs Go Dating, during her four-month break from Ryan, Kerry told the presenters she had been “burned too many times” to commit again, adding, “I believe in marriage and unity. I have desperately tried so hard for that to work, and it never worked out for me.”
Check out: Kerry Katona's boyfriends and husbands - where are they now?
Kerry Katona's husbands and boyfriends - where are they now? - slider
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
Kerry shot to fame in 1999, as 1/3 of pop band Atomic Kitten. It wasn't long before Kerry was swept into her first high-profile relationship – thanks to a well-timed tour with Irish crooners Westlife.During the tour, Kerry met Brian McFadden. Three months later he asked her to marry him.Shortly after he popped the question, Brian was quoted as saying: "Everything I plan, everything I do, revolves around Kerry. When I wake up in the morning, she's the first person I call."I've written a song about her called Fragile Heart. I write songs for Kerry every day, I get so much emotion thinking about her."It wasn't long before Kerry and Brian welcomed their first child: in August 2001, daughter Molly was born.
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
They married in the celebrity wedding of the year in 2002, surrounded by friends, family and a collection of the country's biggest celebrities.Just a year after becoming husband and wife, Kerry and Brian's second daughter, Lily-Sue, was born. But a lavish wedding and two babies weren't enough to keep them together.In 2004 they shocked fans with the announcement of their separation, and to say things didn't end amicably would be an understatement.
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
They've both since moved on and Brian admitted to The Irish Sun that his relationship with his ex-wife is the best it has ever been. He explained: "We don't speak about everyday stuff but we do work closely with anything to do with our kids, the same as most separated parents it's always about the kids."Our relationship is the best it has ever been. There are no fights or arguments, it's all good now. It's taken a long time to get there but I'm glad it's like that."
Brian McFadden now
After splitting with Kerry, Brian went on to date Delta Goodrem for seven years, before marrying Vogue Williams in 2011. It was to last though and years after their divorce, he has now moved on to PE teacher Danielle Parkinson.Things appear to be moving in the right direction because after Kerry Katona shared a photo of herself with Danielle, she then told OK! magazine that Brian's new girlfriend is "an absolute diamond".
Kerry Katona and Ziggy aka Zak Lichman
Back in 2007 it was reported that Kerry and Ziggy once dated. A source told Reveal magazine: "Zak loves partying and is a big character on the club scene, so they had a real laugh together. "It didn't last long because Kerry was definitely still on the rebound. She wanted to keep their relationship secret in case she got back together with Brian."However Kez has since denied it, which is a shame because he's fit.
Ziggy aka Zak Lichman now
It's safe to say that long gone are his reality TV days and now Ziggy - who goes by his real name Zac Lichman - is a doorman at a fancy club in the West End.
Kerry Katona and Dan Corsi
Kerry dated Northern Line boyband member Dan Corsi however things didn't work out and they soon split.
Dan Corsi now
Following his days back in the 90s in the boyband Northern Line, Dan is now a DJ.
Kerry Katona and Dave Cunningham
Soon after Kerry was engaged again – this time to Dave Cunningham. However their happiness was short lived, and they split after having huge bust-up in Spain.It was reported at the time that Dave had been seeing his ex-girlfriend behind Kerry's back, leaving her heartbroken.A source told the People: "Because her private life has been made public before, she made a pact not to discuss the split. She is desperately trying to put on a brave face."It's bad enough dealing with a traumatic break-up under normal circumstances never mind dealing with it when you're Kerry Katona."Again it wasn't long before Kerry had found comfort in the arms of a new man.
Dave Cunningham now
Since their split Dave has been pretty M.I.A and despite their breakup it seemed that Kerry was still fond of him. She explained to Closer magazine how close he was to her daughters Molly and Lilly-Sue: "I don't know what Brian's doing from one day to the next - the girls hardly see him."They'd started to call Dave dad. He's so wonderful to the girls. He's been a dad to them and done so many amazing things because their dad isn't around."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Kerry and taxi driver Mark Croft married on Valentine's Day 2007. But their marriage was a controversial one – during their time together, Kerry, who was once worth an estimated £6.8 million, was declared bankrupt.Mark and Kerry have two children together, daughter Heidi and son Maxwell.
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
It was also during her marriage to Mark that Kerry made her infamous This Morning appearance, when her slurring and erratic behaviour sparked concern with host Phillip Schofield and with viewers.Later it was revealed that Kerry was battling a cocaine addiction, and she's since admitted that she'd go on 'three-day coke binges' with Mark.She said: "I hated my life. I'd lie in bed for three days in a row doing cocaine with Mark. We did coke in our en suite and had a lock on the door. The kids knew if the bathroom door was locked they mustn't come in."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Kerry and Mark split in 2010, two years after she was declared bankrupt, and he later publicly admitted he 'bled her dry'.During an interview with the Daily Star, Kerry confessed she'd almost ended her life while married to Mark.But, she says having the names of her eldest daughters tattooed on her wrists stopped her, as it stopped her from self-harming."If I was ever to do that it would mean cutting through my kids' names. And what a selfish mother I would be to do that. Like any mother, my first love and priority are my children, above everything and everybody."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Following her split from Mark, Kerry attempted to rebuild her media career and avoided high profile relationships for a few years.Kez has recently admitted that just days before she accepted Mark's proposal she begged ex-husband Brian McFadden to take her back. She's said the only reason she married her second husband was because he was her mum's drug dealer and she "thought she was going to get drugs for free."
Mark Croft now
Where is Mark Croft you ask? Well that's a pretty good question actually. Back in 2015 he was caught 'running a £50,000 cannabis farm' but since then he has fallen off the grid.
Kerry Katona and Steve Alce
It seemed things were great between Kerry and Steve Alce after she told Closer magazine: "'I've never felt such love from somebody in my life. Steve is so perfect and I cant believe how lucky I am."We had an amazing time in Dubai but, after two messy marriages, I'm not desperate to get hitched again."But I'd never say never - Steve recently moved in and I finally feel so happy. We get on so well."However a month later she broke up with him. A source told The Sunday People: "She has made her mind up and Steve's pretty gutted. She is a party girl and loves being outrageous whereas he is a gentlemen."Kerry was smitten at first, she loved that he wasn't interested in all the celebrity glitz and glamour."Since then Steve has continued with his career as an artist.
Kerry Katona and George Kay
But in 2013 she met ex-rugby player George Kay, and it wasn't long before she gave birth to their first daughter together, Dylan-Jorge.George proposed to Kerry at the top of the Blackpool Tower in April 2013, and the got married in September 2014.
Kerry Katona George Kay
However shortly before their nuptials, George was detained under the Mental Health Act after having a 'breakdown' outside their home.At the time neighbours said he was 'running in and out of cars' and screaming "Kerry, they're going to f--king kill me. They are hitting me with a hammer."
Kerry Katona George Kay
Just two months after the wedding, it was reported Kerry and George were already on the rocks, and he himself admitted to Closer that marriage to Kerry 'isn't what he thought it would be'.Their marriage was rocked once again in June, when George was hospitalised with 'signs of a stroke'.According to reports, George's behaviour became too much for Kerry to cope with and the couple briefly split.Soon after they seemed to be firmly back on track, with them renewing their wedding vows to 'save the relationship'.
Kerry Katona George Kay
Following a turbulent and alleged violent relationship, George and Kerry wasn't to last and in June 2017 the pair announced they'd split for the final time. Since then, Kerry has revealed she used to drink three BOTTLES of Cava a night during her marriage to George.
George Kay now
Months after serving Kerry Katona with divorce papers, George moved on and begandating Miss Manchester pageant winner Fatime Gashi.George sadly passed away in July 2019 aged 39.
Kerry Katona and James Englgish
Just a few months after her split with her third husband, Kerry moved on to stand up comedian James English. Things got slightly bizarre when he spoke out about their relationship in an interview and said he's "using her" for fame, before describing her as "f--ked up".Riiight.A few months after confirming their relationship, Kerry deleted all traces of James on Instagram and announced they'd split by writing a quote about single life.
James English now
The former Glow star has since launched his own podcast called Anything Goes.
Kerry Katona single
Following her not-so-good-luck with me, Kerry Katona started 2018 single and with an INCREDIBLE body. An insider told Closer magazinethat the mum-of-five is happy being single. They explained: "Kerry has always hopped from one relationship to the next, but something has changed and she's now comfortable without a man. "She doesn't want just anyone - she says she'd rather hold out for someone decent, who respects her and can take care of her and the kids. She's learned her lessons from the past."Go Kerry!
Kerry Katona and Ryan Mahoney
In July 2018, Kerry told her Instagram followers that she was "officially spoken for". Her hunky new beau was fitness instructor Ryan Mahoney. The good looking pair apparently met on dating app Bumble.
Ryan Mahoney
Ryan and Kerry split in October 2018 following a make-or-break holiday in Thailand. Kerry had posted a selfie of her and a fit looking Ryan days after ranting about "fat" Brian McFadden . They reconciled following Kerry's appearance on Celebs Go Dating in 2019.
Although she and Ryan reunited, Kerry admitted she was still sceptical of marriage, reasoning, “I put my relationship on pause because I was so scared. After my first marriage broke down, I felt like a failure as a wife and as a mother, and I was so eager to fix it that I would rush into relationships. I kept creating that pattern over and over again. But after George and I split, I learned my lesson. I had time on my own to rebuild and learn to love myself.”
However, lockdown has only proven the strength of Kerry and Ryan’s romance, with her saying during an Instagram Live chat in April that her kids were even hoping they would have another sibling soon.
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The source says, “Kerry was adamant she wouldn’t marry again but their time in isolation really let her open up more and she has realised how supportive he is of her and the kids. She’s now able to picture being a wife again. Therapy has helped, as she’s realised it wasn’t her fault as a wife for her marriage failures, it was her choice of husbands – but she doesn’t have that worry with Ryan.
“She’s very spiritual and believes in fate. Ryan came along at the perfect time – he has brought stability into her life and she can’t help but feel that this time really could be happy-ever-after.”
Read the best celeb stories in Closer magazine each week.