Kym Marsh and her new partner Samuel Thomas have defended their relationship after facing criticism online.
The 48-year-old met 29-year-old Thomas while starring in 101 Dalmatians The Musical and branded him her “soulmate” in a new Instagram post.
The Corrie star, who split from her third husband 13 months ago, uploaded a photo of them kissing in a photobooth, calling him “the most amazing man ever.”
She captioned the post: “Met the most amazing man ever! Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. @samuelthomasuk I love you #beautiful #soulmate #loveyou.”
Under the photo, he commented: “I love you.”
Reciprocating the social media love, the stge actor shared a black and white photo to his Instagram, writing alongside it: “I didn’t expect you, but here you are. I love you.”
“Ditto. The best things happen unexpectedly. Love you too,” she wrote.
Following their sweet posts, the Morning Live presenter was met with a flood of negative remarks comparing her new boyfriend to her eldest son David who is also 29.
One read: “Jesus…… Another amazing man….. five minute wonder… he looks like your son.”
Responding to the mean comment, she fired back: “Do one.”
In the wake of the message, fans came to Marsh’s defense with one writing: “It's time to grow up and get on with your own life instead of giving hate to someone else's life.”
“I wonder what’s missing from your life that you need to comment on others. Sad really,” another penned.
Showing his support for Marsh, Thomas also shared a furious post on his Instagram Story, which has since been deleted, and read: “Opinions are like a*******s. Everyone's got one but they're still a*******s.”
Marsh, who is mum David and Emilie, 27, from a previous relationship, was married to Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas, with whom she shares daughter Polly, 13, between 2012 and 2014.
Before Jamie, she was married to Jack Ryder from 2002 to 2009. Her third marriage to Army Major Scott Ratcliff ended in divorce 13 months after their wedding 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.
“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 insider added that the couple “had a trial separation”, hoping to get “back on track”, but ultimately decided it was “best to go their separate ways”.
