She’s long been open about her desire to find her Mr Right, settle down and start a family, and last week, Lauren Goodger went official with new boyfriend Charles Drury, with the pair sharing cosy pictures of each other on their social-media feeds – with Lauren even captioning one picture of Charles, “I love you”.
Lauren, 34, posted a snap of herself kissing the builder – who she was first linked to earlier this month, and is an ex of her pal Jordan – and wrote, “You make me happy”.
Meanwhile Charles, 23, seemed just as loved-up, sharing a sweet selfie with Lauren alongside a loveheart emoji.
He posted another picture of them together, captioned, “Sunday roast and chill”. And Charles showed just how serious he was about his new girlfriend with his response to a troll comment on the photo.
When one follower wrote, “Mate she’s 10 years older… Go get a better woman… She’s begging marriage and kids”, Charles hit back, “Age means nothing when you meet someone with a beautiful soul that makes you happy & brings you nothing but positivity to your life… She might want those things as do I & when the time’s right who knows, they might happen [sic].”
And pals say that Charles’ attitude towards their future has delighted Lauren, and that the couple are going from strength to strength.
A source says, “Lauren’s wanted to settle down and have kids for years. Now that she’s found Charles, she’s really hoping it could become a reality. She feels heartbroken that there are still people out there trying to destroy her baby dream by writing such vicious comments.
“It’s been secretly really upsetting her, but she’s holding on to the fact that Charles has made it clear he shares her mindset, and she hopes it works out this time around. She’s feeling really happy at the moment.”
The pair’s relationship came to light earlier this month when the ex-TOWIE star shared pictures of herself cuddling an unknown man, which eagle-eyed fans quickly realised was Charles after he shared images in a similar location. Their liaison caused a stir, as Charles had hit headlines last year for dating Jordan, who was once close pals with Lauren.
While Lauren denied she and Charles were anything more than friends at the time, she confirmed last week that they are an item after she shared a photo of him on her Instagram Stories, with the caption, “Best looking boy I’ve seen”.
The source adds, “Friends are all speculating that she’s rushing into the next step and already dreaming up a future with Charles that includes having a family together.”
Check out: the past loves of Lauren Goodger – where are they now?
Lauren Goodger boyfriends - where are they now SLIDER
1 of 8Mark Wright
Lauren dated childhood sweetheart Mark for 12 years - with nearly two years of their rocky romance aired on TOWIE. Lauren was so committed, she even had Mark's name tattooed on her bikini line. But in one dramatic episode in 2011, Lauren decided to have it lasered off whilst the couple were on a break - much to her suprise, Mark made a marriage proposal on the same day. The on/off pair split for good after just five months of being engaged.
2 of 8Mark Wright
Mark is now married to former Coronation Streetstar Michelle Keegan. The pair tied the knot in 2015, but have since juggled their marriage with work commitments whilst Michelle has travelled abroad for BBC drama Our Girl and Mark has taken on the showbiz world in America.
3 of 8Jake McLean
Lauren dated Jake McLean on and off from 2012 to 2016 - during which, Lauren had Jake's name tattooed on her wrist. But once the pair had parted ways for good, Lauren branded their romance 'toxic.' Following their split, Lauren said: "'I don't mean to sound horrible but I'm relieved it's over."
4 of 8Jake McLean
Following his time in the limelight with Lauren during their two year romance, Jake has now gone under the radar.
5 of 8Joey Morrison
Lauren raised eyebrows in September 2016 when she first started dating Joey, 33, while he was still in prison for a string of violent drugs-related charges. Defending their romance on Channel 5's In Therapy while they were still together, Lauren said, "This is the weirdest relationship ever, but it's exciting and I think that's why I like it. A bad boy never cheats, a bad boy is very loyal. They're strong family men, they've just got a bit of a naughty side to them." Opting for a tattoo hat-trick, Lauren also got Joey's name inked, once Jake's had been removed. The pair were together for two and a half years before they broke up in 2018.
6 of 8Joey Morrison
Joey was released from prison in September 2018, after serving half of his 16 year sentence. Enjoying his new-found freedom, he went onto social media to promote his luxurious lifestyle post-prison. Although Lauren and Joey have officially broken up, fans have spotted Joey featuring in Lauren's stories on Instagram on several occasions.
7 of 8Ricci Guarnaccio
Lauren and Ricci appeared on Celebrity Big Brother together, where he confessed to falling for her. But sadly for the Geordie lad, Lauren was adamant nothing would happen between them. Yet, despite the TOWIE star telling Vicky Pattison's ex that they would only ever "just be friends", the pair were inseparable at the post-eviction party. They were seen kissing and cuddling before heading back to their hotel together at 4am.
8 of 8Ricci Guarnaccio
After his time on Geordie Shore, Celebrity Big Brother and Ex on the Beach, Ricci has taken a step back from TV. Nowadays he uses his social media to plug teeth whitening brands and holidays. And it looks like TV isn't the only thing Ricci is steering clear of - in 2018, the Geordie star told Star magazine "I'm happily single. Women are evil. God put them on this earth to hurt us!"
Lauren – who launched an OnlyFans site earlier this year, where she posts X-rated pictures to paying subscribers – has been very candid about her longing for a baby in the past.
She’s had a number of relationships in the public eye. She rose to fame in 2010 with then-boyfriend Mark Wright on TOWIE, with viewers seeing the couple getting engaged before splitting five months later. At the time, Lauren admitted she thought she’d be with Mark, 33, forever, saying, “Me and Mark will love each other for the rest of our lives”. She even later revealed she’d had an abortion while with him, as the pair agreed they weren’t ready to become parents at the time.
She then went on to date another Essex boy, Jake McLean, from 2012 for four years, and said at the time, “If I fell pregnant now, I wouldn’t have an abortion because I feel like I’m in a good position mentally and financially to provide for a child.” In 2017, Lauren revealed she had suffered a devastating miscarriage while competing on Dancing On Ice in 2013.
While dating prison inmate Joey Morrison in 2017, she told Closer, “I can’t wait to get married – I’d love two weddings! I’ve met the love of my life… I want 10 kids.”
During her stint on Celebs Go Dating last year, Lauren further expressed her desire to be a mum, saying, “I want to have a good family, so a good dad for my kids and a husband… Is that really too much to ask for?”
And she told Closer this summer, “Lockdown would have been the perfect time to have a boyfriend and a baby… I can’t wait to get married – I want a baby so badly. I’ve been maternal since I was 19.”
And now pals say they’re warning Lauren not to let her previous baby heartache of an abortion and miscarriage, or her desperation to start a family, cloud her judgement of her relationship with Charles. The source says, “Lauren’s friends are so happy for her and they know she’ll be an amazing mum if she does have a baby, but they’re also making sure she’s not rushing things with Charles. They’ve told her she needs to make sure they work well together, before rushing into anything permanent like a baby – even if it is everything she’s ever wanted.”
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This isn’t the first time Lauren has been linked to an ex of Jordan’s. Last year, the star – who was bridesmaid for Jordan, 44, at her wedding to Kieran Hayler in 2013 – was pictured out partying with Kris Boyson, but insisted there was nothing untoward going on. She commented afterwards, “There is no way I’d break girl code and date one of Katie’s exes.”
But this time, Lauren seems to have followed her heart and chosen love over her friendship with Jordan – and pals say that’s because Lauren’s really hoping this relationship is the real deal.
The source adds, “Lauren doesn’t count Katie as one of her boyfriend’s exes, as she says they were barely together. She doesn’t believe she needs Katie’s authority to date him, and can see whoever she likes.
“Lauren is really loved-up and is the happiest she’s been in a while. She’s over the moon to have found Charles, and they’re getting on really well. She’s hoping she’s found her future husband and that it’ll work out for them in the long term.”
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