Ryan Thomas has spoken candidly about his “biggest worry” as a dad — and shut down claims that his teenage daughter Scarlett has had an easy ride into showbiz thanks to her famous family.
The Coronation Street legend, 41, is father to three children: 16-year-old Scarlett, whom he shares with ex-partner and fellow Corrie star Tina O’Brien, plus Lilah, three, and Roman, five, with fiancée and former TOWIE favourite Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Proud dad Ryan Thomas with daughter Lilah, three, and son Roman, fiveCredit: Mark Hayman
But don’t call them a blended family.
“We’re just a solid family, and that’s how it will always be,” Ryan insists.
Ryan Thomas and his daughter Lilah. 11 Ryan jokes around with Lilah on our adorable Father’s Day shootCredit: Mark Hayman
After playing Jason Grimshaw on Corrie for 16 years, winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and dazzling fans on last year’s Dancing On Ice, Ryan says fatherhood is the role he’s proudest of.
“When I sit round the table with all my kids and Luce, I think, ‘I made this.’ That’s when I really appreciate what I’ve got,” he says.
Ryan with girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh, their kids Lilah and Roman, and Scarlett, Ryan’s daughter from a previous relationshipCredit: Ryan Thomas Instagram
Despite joking he will never have another child, Ryan admits Scarlett is now his biggest concern.
“I don’t wake up with her every morning or know what she’s doing,” he explains, adding that moving the family back to Manchester earlier this year was all about being closer to her.
Ryan flexes his muscles with son RomanCredit: Mark Hayman
Brothers Scott, Adam and Ryan with dad DougieCredit: Instagram
“When we lived in Essex, she was always coming down at weekends, but that stopped as she got older. You reach that age when friends become more important than parents — and I really missed the day-to-day stuff.”
Scarlett landed her first major TV role at just 14, starring as Izzy Charles in BBC drama Waterloo Road alongside her uncle Adam Thomas — sparking whispers that she’s a so-called “nepo baby”.
Ryan was recently back on Corrie filming the exit story line of his on-screen mum Eileen Grimshaw, played by Sue CleaverCredit: ITV/Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock
Ryan is having none of it.
“Everyone thinks she gets a lift up from family, but she worked damn hard to get that job,” he says firmly.
“She went through the same audition process as everyone else — she didn’t get a free ride.”
Ryan with daughter Scarlett, who he insists isn’t a nepo baby
With more than 900,000 followers on the family’s viral TikTok account, @Thethomasfam__, Ryan admits there are now “conversations” about a possible family reality show.
“People keep saying we’re the UK Kardashians,” he laughs. “It wasn’t the plan — but now TV production companies are getting in touch.”
Ryan with his ex and Scarlett’s mum, fellow Corrie star Tina O’Brien
But behind the social media smiles lies deep-seated heartache.
Ryan became visibly emotional as he spoke about his father, ’70s soul singer Dougie James, who died suddenly in November 2020.
“I miss him every day,” he admits.
“I’ve got his ashes in my living room — he watches me every night. I can’t bring myself to bury him yet.”
Ryan and Lucy are all smiles with their kids
His dad left the family when Ryan was just 12, leaving him to help raise younger brothers Adam and Scott.
“I was waiting for him to come back every day,” Ryan recalls quietly.
“That experience made me the father I am today.”
Family by the pool. 11 The family often make hilarious YouTube and TikTok video
Despite getting engaged to Lucy in 2019, the couple are still no closer to setting a wedding date.
“We’re always renovating or moving,” he explains. “We are having the conversations — it will happen — but right now, life is just busy.”
The pair make time for regular date nights and even plan child-free holidays, but for Ryan, Father’s Day is about one thing only.
“As long as I’m sitting round the table with my family, that’s all that matters to me.”
And this year, he says proudly, he even gets to show off his two youngest kids on the front of Fabulous magazine.
“How cool is that?” he grins.