KYM Marsh was all smiles today as she held hands with her new boyfriend after hitting back at age gap trolls.
Singer Kym, 48, is enjoying a romance with 29-year-old Samuel Thomas.
The Hear’Say legend – who shot to fame in the early noughties – shrugged off any criticism about their 19 year age gap as the pair stepped out in Manchester.
Dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, the former Corrie star sweetly held hands with her toyboy love.
Her new man looked handsome in his white tee and jeans, compete with bomber jacket.
The smitten pair only had eyes for each other as they browsed the shops in the city centre.
The singer couldn’t stop beaming as she chatted happily to Samuel.
Kym went public with her romance with her new man last month, and even called him her “soulmate”.
But the 19 year age gap quickly raised eyebrows and divided fans.
Despite the backlash, a source has claimed that Kym is Kym is not paying any attention to the negative trolls.
“They’re not taking any notice of the backlash – they’ve had so much positivity, too. And they’re just excited to see what happens,” they told OK! magazine.
While close friends and family are said to be overjoyed for the happy couple.
They added: “It’s very early days in their relationship.
“They’re really enjoying being together but both of them want to take things slowly and see how their relationship develops.
“They’re both really happy and their family and friends are really happy for them, too.”
They even packed on the PDA as they hit back at their critics.
Friends have since said that Samuel has “put a smile” back on Kym’s face after the breakdown of her third marriage to Army Major Scott Ratcliff.
In gushing posts, Kym and Samuel were seen kissing.
Kym sweetly wrote: “Met the most amazing man ever! Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. @samuelthomasuk I love you #beautiful #soulmate #loveyou.”
Samuel shared a black and white picture of Kym sitting on their lap as they kissed at a bar.
He captioned it: “I didn’t expect you, but here you are. I love you.”
“Ditto,” she responded in his comments. “The best things happen unexpectedly. Love you too.”
However, both were quickly forced to defend their romance after being targeted by cruel trolls.
After telling one doubter to “do one”, Kym later added in another response: “It’s time to grow up and get on with your own life instead of giving hate to someone else’s life.”
KYM has been married three times - to EastEnders star Jack Ryder from 2002-2009, and to Hollyoaks' Jamie Lomas from 2012-2014.
The 48-year-old split from her third husband Army Major Scott Ratcliff last year, who she wed in 2021.
The actress met 29-year-old actor Samuel Thomas while rehearsing for a new theatre show, 101 Dalmations: The Musical.
Kym has two children, David and Emilie, from an earlier relationship, and a daughter, Polly, with Lomas. She and Lomas also had a son, Archie, in 2010, who died moments after he was born.
To another hater, she added: “I wonder what’s missing from your life that you need to comment on others. Sad really.”
Kym ended her relationship with Scott last year after a two-year marriage, after their work commitments forced them to spend too much time apart.
They first met in 2018.
Scott, 34, works the Parachute Regiment of the military, and combined with Kym’s hectic work schedule it meant the couple barely saw each other.
“It’s very sad for all involved, but they’ve decided it’s time to tell their family and friends and focus on the future — which means filing for divorce,” a source said at the time.
“They’re hoping to keep things as amicable as possible. Hopefully time will help to heal things.”
