Kerry: “Lauren should stay single”

Pals say Kerry Katona has encouraged Lauren Goodger to put herself first amid fears over jailbird lover Joey Morrison

They’ve both T suffered very public battles with their weight, and endured a series of roller-coaster romances – and last week, Lauren Goodger and Kerry Katona were spotted looking close at a Love Island viewing party, as pals say the pair bonded.

After insiders revealed to Closer last week that Lauren, 31, was concerned her on-off jailbird boyfriend Joey Morrison – who is set for permanent release later this year – could stray on the outside, sources say Kerry was encouraging her to embrace the single life.

SYMPATHY

A source says, “Lauren opened up to Kerry about her concerns with Joey. Kerry told her she’s been through so much with men and sympathised. She told Lauren she’s happier than ever since being single and putting herself first.”

Kerry – who recently revealed she wanted to become a life coach – was once renowned for her chequered love life, and has suffered three failed marriages in the spotlight. She was reportedly cheated on by her first husband, Westlife singer Brian Mcfadden, then claimed her second husband, taxi driver Mark Croft, was her “drug dealer”. Kerry split with her third husband, rugby player George Kay, last June after accusing him of physical abuse.

But the former Atomic Kitten singer, 37 – who’s shed 2st through healthy eating and exercise, and recently revealed she was nine-years clean from drugs – has turned her life around. She revealed in February, “Being single is the way forward. I’m in a relationship with myself and learning to love me… I’ve never done that before.” The source adds, “Kerry feels better than ever now that she’s not focused on a man and sees a lot of her younger self in Lauren. She wants to help others feel positive and couldn’t help but offer her advice.”

FAIRY-TALE ENDING

But insiders say Lauren is still not sure about walking away from Joey, admitting to pals that she feels she’s invested too much time and energy to give up. The pair went public with their romance in December 2016, but reportedly split in August last year after Lauren admitted a romance behind bars was “mentally draining”. But when it was revealed last month that Joey was set for permanent release later this year, and had been granted a temporary release last month, insiders said they believed the pair had spent quality time together and Lauren was now desperate to have their fairytale ending.

The source adds, “Lauren understood where Kerry was coming from and she knows things with Joey are complicated. She does worry he’s pulling away, but she can’t switch off her feelings. Despite all her worries and concerns, she stills dreams of settling down with Joey.”

❛SHE SEES A LOT OF HER YOUNGER SELF IN LAUREN – AND WANTS TO HELP❜