Ryan Thomas and his fiancé Lucy Mecklenburgh put on a united front this afternoon.
The couple - who got engaged in 2019 - both took to social media to share a series of Instagram Stories with their fans, following former Coronation Street star Ryan being pictured enjoying a friendly embrace with his pal Zaraah Abrahams at the National Television Awards on Thursday night.
The actor and the married EastEnders actress 'have been good mates for over 20 years' and were 'just catching up as they haven’t seen each other for quite some time', a representative for Zaraah stated after the pictures of Ryan burrowing his face into Zaraah's neck were made public.
In the pictures, obtained by The Sun, dad-of-three Ryan can be seen wrapping both arms around the BBC soap star and an onlooker said it was an "affectionate cuddle" and the pair were "caught up in the moment.
Taking to social media on Sunday, former TOWIE star Lucy seemed unbothered by the snaps - sharing a slew of updates to her Instagram Stories.
The reality TV star, who shares two children with Ryan, started off the day celebrating her youngest child sleeping through the night, sharing a sweet snap of herself alongside her baby daughter and declaring: "11pm - 5am I feel like a new woman haha."
Lucy then went on to share snaps of herself 'brunchin' with my babies' at The Dining Room at Mare Street Market, before future husband Ryan made a cameo on her Instagram Stories - with both stars beaming as they walked alongside each other with a pram.
The couple even bumped into former Coronation Street Chris Fountain during their family day out, with Lucy hugging the actor following his recent admission he suffered a mini stroke at the age of 35.
Ryan and Lucy are doting parents to son Roman, two, and daughter Lilah, who the couple welcomed into the world together in May. Ryan also shares a 13-year-old daughter with Corrie star Tina O'Brien.
The two stars have had a difficult month as their son was rushed to hospital and kept in for 24 hours.
Little Roman has been battling some serious health issues which have specialists have been investigating after the tot was found blue in his cot by his terrified mum a year ago.
Ryan took to his Instagram last week to share a black and white photo of the youngster in a cot in A&E as they spent the night in hospital.
The concerned dad wrote alongside the snap: "Me and my little man have unfortunately been in this situation many times before.
"But this weekend we spent 24 hours in hospital away from home - but wanted to say a massive thank you to all the doctors and nurses at The Cumberland Infirmary for the hard work and dedication in making sure we get the best care possible.
"Me and my boy are home safe because of you. We are truly grateful."
Since his horror health scare last year, the tot has needed daily medication and an inhaler to help him breathe properly.
The youngster has also been having regular check-ups to monitor his progress and received a new diagnosis earlier this year.
Recently, reality TV star Lucy explained that doctors had discovered that liquids were able to leak into Roman’s lungs.
Addressing the snaps obtained by The Sun this weekend, a spokesperson for Zaraah, who played Corrie's Joanne Jackson for two years from 2005 before joining EastEnders as Chelsea Fox, told the publication: "Zaraah and Ryan have been good mates for over 20 years and were just catching up as they haven’t seen each other for quite some time. It’s nothing more than that."
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