Former Corononation Street star Ryan Thomas has spoken out about parenthood with his fiancée Lucy Mecklenburgh after welcoming their son into the world.
The pair had their son Roman in March 2020 and Ryan also has a daughter from a previous relationship, but now the soap star has opened up about the challenges he faces with parenthood.
Talking on his podcast Mancs On The Mic with his brothers, Love Island's Scott Thomas and Emmerdale's Adam Thomas, Ryan had said that when Lucy talks about having another child and is still holding onto the baby clothes it "scares" him.
When Lucy mentioned having another baby, Ryan didn't seem overjoyed about it.
"I shouted: 'What? What did you say? Another?! No!'
"She’s still holding onto it. I’m not even out the other side and she’s still holding on that – she wants another one," he explained.
He openly confessed, "Being a parent is testing, but do you know what I miss the most? I miss just me and Lucy.
"I don’t actually want to be single anymore because I really love my relationship, but we don’t get any time."
Ryan went on to say, "I was talking to my mate about this the other day and he said: 'When you go out with Lucy, do you enjoy it?' and I actually really still enjoy it.
"When it’s me and her, I really enjoy being in her company and we laugh and we joke - but we just don’t get time to do that any more."
The 36 year-old went on to explain, "I always say to her: 'I want the old Lucy back sometimes', it’s not that she’s not there - it’s just I’m not the main priority any more.
"Roman comes first. I just miss that. I said to her the other day: 'Shall we just go away, the two of us? Let’s go away for like a long weekend or something', and she’s going: 'Oh I can’t because I’m feeding.'"
"I’m like, I just want to escape our parenting for a long weekend and just let our hair down like we did before he was here."
CHECK OUT: the most dramatic TOWIE breakups of all time
CLOSER: TOWIE Original cast then and now photos
Lydia Bright
Lovely Lydia Bright had a tough job putting up with on/off boyfriend James 'Arg' Argent. After Arg's cheating ways proved too much to deal with, Lydia walked away from their relationship and the show in 2012, but returned for a few special episodes.
Lydia Bright
Lydia had string of relationships and was most recently linked to mechanic Lee Cronin. She still runs her successful clothing business, Bella Sorella, and she took part in the Channel 4 TV show The Jump.
James 'Arg' Argent
Arg was the loveable cheeky chap who could first be found singing around the bars of Essex. After proving to be a pretty lousy boyfriend to Lyds and being suspended from the show for partying, Arg went into rehab and came out a new man.
James 'Arg' Argent
Arg is now in a relationship with another Essex blonde bombshell, Gemma Collins, and they have big plans to become the world's next big power couple.
Lauren Goodger
Poor Lauren Goodger was always in distress over long-term boyfriend Mark Wright. The future never really looked promising for this couple. In fact, she famously pushed Mark into a swimming pool.
Lauren Goodger
Lauren left the show in 2016, before appearing on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. She's now in a relationship with Joey Morrisson, who's currently doing a stretch in prison. Lauren occasionally makes a special appearance in the show that made her name.
Mark Wright
Ah, Mark wright - he sure did have a way with the ladies in Essex. After finishing things with fiance Lauren Goodger, he had flings with Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh. Mark left the show in 2016 after meeting actress Michelle Keegan.
Mark Wright
Mark married Michelle in 2015 and now has a TV career in LA, presenting a show called Extras. The pair are VERY loved up and we reckon it's far less dramatic than his previous relationships.
Kirk Norcross
Sugar Hut club promoter Kirk Norcross had relationships with Amy Childs and Lauren Pope. He even had 'his n hers' nose surgery with Popey before they split. Kirk also introduced viewers to his Sugar Hut owner dad, Mick, who had a one-sided love affair with Gemma Collins.
Kirk Norcross
Kirk is now a dad to two kids and he has an ADORABLE Instagram feed of family photos. Kirk also had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother and Ex On The Beach, but it looks like he's now sticking to life as a daddy.
Amy Childs
Queen of the vajazzle, Amy Childs was the beautiful beautician who only stayed in the show for a year. She soon starred in her own series, It's All About Amy.
Amy Childs
Amy is now a mum to little Polly who she gave birth to in 2017. She is no longer in a relationship with Polly's dad, Bradley Wright, but she was recently snapped with a mystery man on holiday.
Harry Derbidge
Young Harry was the cousin of Amy Childs and just as glamorous as her. Who can forget when he performed as Lady Gaga at his birthday party?
Harry Derbidge
Harry started a relationship with co-star Bobby Norris but it ended after Harry reportedly cheated. Harry recently opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, but he looks to be doing well, and is now a pretty amazing makeup artist. Do you think he's had lip fillers? Hmmm.
Sam Faiers
Sam Faiers first hit screens when best mate Amy Childs gave her a vajazzle. She gave in to Mark Wright's romantic pursuits for a short while, but it was her relationship with Joey Essex that won our hearts (sob).
Sam Faiers
Sam now has a BEAUTIFUL family with her partner Paul Knightley and two kids. She went on to star in another reality show, Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries. Sam has also opened up about her battle with Crohn's disease and she still helps to run clothing boutique, Minnie's.
Jess Wright
Sister of Mark Wright, she had to give him a few sisterly straight-talks. She was a model and singer, with dreams of making it big in the pop music world. Jess's big relationship was with co-star Ricky Rayment.
Jess Wright
More recently. Jess split from Strictly's Giovanni Pernice after five months of dating. She's released a fitness DVD but that's all we've heard from her, really.
Billie Faiers
The bond between Billie and her sister Sam was pure joy to watch. She always had her sister's back.
Billie Faiers
Billie is now engaged to Greg Shepherd, who she has a son and a daughter with. She appeared in The Mummy Diaries with her big sis, but it's reported that she's to get her own reality show which will document her getting ready for the wedding.
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy Mecklenburgh caused a lot of trouble between Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger after she slept with Mark. But her big romance was with co-star Mario Falcone.
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy is now a fitness GURU. Honestly, nothing comes between this girl and her abs. She's now in a relationship with former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas after appearing on Celebrity Island together. She also runs a fashion boutique and an online fitness program - quite the entrepreneur.
Lauren Pope
DJ Lauren 'Popey' Pope was already known for being a bit of a party girl on the circuit before starting TOWIE. She was in an on/off relationship with Kirk Norcross and dated Tom Pearce.
Lauren Pope
Lauren is now the proud owner of a successful hair extensions business. She recently rejoined the show.
Maria Fowler
Model Maria Fowler was Popey's best pal and she did NOT get on with her mate's BF Kirk Norcross. She went through some tough times in public after leaving the show just two series later.
Maria Fowler
But now Maria looks VERY happy in her new role as a mum to Evie, who she had with boyfriend Kelvin Batey.
Nanny Pat
Nanny Pat was the voice of reason that the TOWIE cast needed. She doted on her grandkids Mark and Jess Wright, and always dished out the best advice. She also knew how to let her hair down. Sadly, 80-year-old Pat died in 2015.
And although Ryan admits that he still gets on well with his other half, he's feeling hopeful that they'll have more time together as Roman gets older.
"I think that time will come eventually and I’m really holding onto that. The good thing about being a parent is you still enjoy each other’s company without your children, because if you don’t there’s no longevity in your relationship and your family if you can’t enjoy each other’s time.
"When he [Roman] goes to bed, I love when we watch a film together and we pause it and we talk about it... and that’s great that we’ve still got that, because if you don’t have that I don’t think that that family can still remain the same."
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Ryan has definitely proved his still very much loved-up with Lucy after they both shared posts of their Valentine's Day.
Lucy posted a photo of herself surrounded by red and white roses, and many balloons hanging from the ceiling.
Captioned the Instagram snap she wrote, "WOW wow Wow!!!! Came home from a walk today to this 😱🌹😍🤗❤️ literally had no idea! love you @ryanthomas84 ❤️🥰 #valentinesday".
While Ryan also posted a photo on his Instagram of their candle lit dinner set up.