Kym Marsh, 48, opens new Manchester restaurant

Kym Marsh was pictured opening a new Manchester restaurant on Tuesday, just days after being forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating someone who is the same age as her son.

The actress, 48, confirmed her romance with fellow actor Samuel Thomas, a co-star in her touring production of 101 Dalmatians, in a social media post.

At 29, Thomas – who she refers to as ‘the most amazing man ever’ – is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe.

But Kym put the backlash behind her as she smiled and cut the ribbon at the launch of Farmhouse Kitchen.

Kym was pictured serving behind the counter of the restaurant, which will combine carvery dining with an onsite café for coffee and cake lovers.

Kym’s friends are reportedly worried that her new romance with a younger man could all end in heartache if it ‘fizzles out’.

The soap star has the support of her pals who are apparently ‘happy’ she has found someone, but they are said to have concerns that she could end up hurt.

The couple met while working on a production of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical and she has already had to defend their relationship over the big age-gap.

According to The Mirror, those close to Kym also have some concerns about her new relationship following her run of bad luck with men.

A friend of Kym’s said: ‘Samuel seems a really nice lad and we are pleased for Kym and she seems really happy again. But it is a unique situation when you are working together on a show and spending so much time together.

‘The relationship will have to change when the show ends and they have their own lives and new projects to work on. Hopefully the spark will continue and the relationship will become a long term one.

‘Kym is headstrong and throws herself into romance, I hope she doesn’t get hurt or it doesn’t fizzle out. Unfortunately she has had her fair share of bad luck in love.’

MailOnline have reached out to Kym’s representatives for comment.

Kym was forced to defend her new relationship on Sunday evening after cynical Instagram followers savaged her for dating someone who is the same age as her son.

The mother-of-three had previously confirmed her romance with fellow actor Samuel, a co-star in her touring production of 101 Dalmatians .

At 29, Thomas – who she refers to as ‘the most amazing man ever’ – is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe.

And Instagram followers were quick to make the connection after Kym announced her latest romance by describing Thomas as her ‘soulmate.’

Commenting on the post, one unimpressed follower wrote: ‘Jesus… Another amazing man…..5 minute wonder… he looks like your son.’

A second added: ‘He looks like your son! Kym I like you but keep it private.’

Responding to the posts, the irate actress – whose third marriage ended just 13-months ago – snapped: ‘Do one.’

New boyfriend Thomas – who plays bespectacled Tom in 101 Dalmatians – also weighed in, adding: ‘I wonder what’s missing from your life that you need to comment on others. Sad really.’

Hours earlier Kym revealed she’s found love with her young co-star, her first serious romance since the collapse of her third marriage little more than a year ago.

‘Met the most amazing man ever! Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. @samuelthomasuk I love you,’ she captioned a photo of herself and Thomas.

Sharing a black and white photo to his own Instagram account, Thomas wrote: ‘I didn’t expect you, but here you are. I love you.’

‘Ditto. The best things happen unexpectedly. Love you too,’ Kym responded.

The actress is a parent to son David, 29, and daughter Emilie, 27, from a former relationship with builder David Cunliffe.

The couple, who met in a Lancashire pub, separated in 1999, shortly before Kym found fame as a contestant on TV talent show Popstars, where she would become a member of short-lived pop group Hear’Say.

Two years later Kym was making an appearance on Top Of The Pops when she crossed paths with actor Jack Ryder, a household name at the time thanks to his role as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders.

They married at St. Albans parish church, Hertford, in August 2002 and subsequently sold the pictures to OK! magazine for a reported £300,000.

But seven years later it was all over, with Ryder filing for divorce on the grounds of adultery following her apparent fling with second-husband-in-waiting Jamie Lomas

Friends initially feared Kym had rushed into her relationship with Lomas, who she started dating just four months after separating from Ryder.

The pair met on a train as they made their way to the 2007 TV Quick Awards, but casual chat soon turned into romance with the pair going public in 2008 – a year before her divorce.

They had been together for less than two months when Kym fell pregnant with their first child, but tragedy struck when their son Archie Jay died moments after being born 18-weeks premature on February 11.

The couple had happier news when they welcomed daughter Polly in March 2011.

They exchanged vows in September 2012 but were divorced by 2014, with Kym reportedly stunned by Lomas’ decision to break it off.

She remarried for a third time to Scott Ratcliff back in 2021.

The pair split 13 months following their wedding when Kym filed for divorce citing unreasonable behaviour.

The couple were said to have broken up following a trial separation, due to work keeping them apart.

A source told The Sun : ‘They both really tried to make it work, but the cracks have been there for a while and they were only getting to see each other for one or two days a week at the very most.

‘Kym’s been so busy, and last year (being on Strictly Come Dancing) meant even her weekends were stacked up along with weekdays rehearsing, more recently she’s been filming all over the place and rehearsing for a new theatre run.’

Adding about how Army Major Ratcliff’s work drove a wedge between him and Kym, the insider said: ‘Scott is based in barracks down south – he’s got a very busy career as well. Kym’s still a working mum, too, and lives up in Cheshire with her family.

‘In the end it was the fact they lived so far away from each other that just made it impossible.’

The source said the pair ‘had a trial separation’ and were ‘hoping to get things back on track’, but added they have decided ‘it’s best to go their separate ways’.