Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien’s ‘bitter feud’ as Coronation Street exes reportedly at odds over daughter Scarlett
ensions between the Coronation Street exes have apparently been bubbling for years(Image: Getty)
Once hailed as one of Coronation Street’s most adored real-life couples, Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien are now said to be locked in a long-running and deeply emotional feud – with their daughter Scarlett at the heart of the tension.
Insiders claim the strain between the former lovers has been building for years, reaching a dramatic peak in 2022 when Tina was allegedly so furious following a heated argument that she vandalised Ryan’s car with a baseball bat.
While the true trigger behind that explosive row remains unclear, it is now suggested that their clash stems from sharply different views on how to raise Scarlett.
2 of 5 Scarlett Thomas and Tina O’Brien attend the British Soap awards on May 31, 2025 in London(Image: Getty)
Now 16, Scarlett has grown up in the spotlight and shot to fame after landing the role of Izzy Charles in Waterloo Road. She has since built a strong online presence, posting regularly on TikTok and appearing on her family’s shared account, The Thomas Family.
However, sources say that behind the scenes, her parents could not be more divided.
It is reported that Ryan, 41, and Tina, 42, have contrasting parenting styles – with Tina said to prioritise education and stability, while Ryan introduces Scarlett to the glitz of his public life and showbiz world.
The pair welcomed Scarlett together in 2008 but split a year later(Image: WireImage)
One insider revealed Tina was left “beyond raging” after Scarlett left her £20,000-a-year school in Greater Manchester two years ago, claiming she exited “under a cloud”.
Scarlett recently fuelled speculation about her disrupted education when she posted a reflective TikTok during GCSE results week, writing:
“Watching everyone get their GCSE results today wondering if I could’ve had good results but I will forever wonder.”
Ryan later stepped in to defend her, commenting:
“Is it even anyone’s business or concern though?”
4 of 5 Tina is said to be the stricter parent(Image: WireImage)
Sources now say Tina was “desperate” for Scarlett to enjoy a more “normal upbringing” and secure a solid education.
“She’s less flashy than Ryan and didn’t want Scarlett relying on showbiz connections,” a source told MailOnline.
“She’s always wanted her to stay on the straight and narrow, and she’s definitely the stricter parent.”
It is also claimed Tina has been particularly wary of her daughter being labelled a “nepo baby”.
Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien were once love’s young dream(Image: Getty Images)
“She wanted Scarlett to find her own path, with proper tools and education to help her,” the source added.
Another insider suggested the tension intensified when Scarlett was repeatedly placed in the public eye on Ryan’s social media.
One TikTok video – titled Who knows Scarlett best? – saw Ryan, his brothers Scott and Adam, and Scarlett herself laughing when Ryan joked her favourite drink was a “vodka orange”. Tina was allegedly “absolutely furious” over the clip.
“She just wants Scarlett to remain grounded,” a source said. “Ryan is all about the connections, and she finds it hard when Scarlett is exposed to all that.”
While Tina keeps a low-key online presence, Ryan and the wider Thomas clan regularly share family moments with their millions of followers. Scarlett often appears alongside her dad, uncles Scott and Adam, stepmum Lucy Mecklenburgh, half-brother Roman, six, half-sister Lilah, three, and their cousins.
Ryan and Tina first met on the set of Coronation Street, where he played Jason Grimshaw and she starred as Sarah Platt. Their on-screen chemistry soon turned into real-life romance, making them one of soapland’s golden couples.
They welcomed Scarlett in 2008 but split just a year later – and now, insiders say, their long-simmering differences have erupted into a feud that shows no sign of cooling.