Ferne: “I might meet Mr Right on the tube”

Looking for love can be complicated, so we asked single celebs of different ages to tell us about their romantic hopes and dreams. Here, Ferne Mccann reveals why she’s avoiding Tinder now she’s a single mum, and overleaf three more star singletons confess

She suffered a traumatic 2017, S with her then-boyfriend Arthur Collins being arrested and jailed for an acid attack, leaving her to face pregnancy and motherhood alone. But after welcoming daughter Sunday last November, single mum Ferne Mccann tells Closer life couldn’t be more different as she reflects on how far she has come. She says, “It makes me emotional thinking back to a year ago, when I was pregnant. I’ve completely changed. I’ve grown as a person so much. I feel like I’ve become more aware of everything and I’m proud of myself, as a mum and as a person. If I could talk to myself a year ago, I’d tell myself to stop worrying and remind myself that everything gets better with time. Life is good right now.” Ferne’s life was turned upside down last April when, just days after declaring her love for him to the world, Collins, 25, was the subject of a nationwide manhunt

‘Everything gets better with time’

following an acid attack in a London nightclub – a crime he was found guilty of and sentenced to 20 years in prison for, in December.

But the former TOWIE star – who enjoyed a brief romance with an older man earlier this year – says she’s now ready to meet her Mr Right and settle down.

She says, “I’ve been giving dating a go – but it would have to be a patient man to slot into my life. I’ve texted a few guys and given a few things a go – I love a flirt. I’m being proactive and making an effort to take the Tube rather than get cabs, because you never meet anyone in a taxi. So I’ve been taking the Tube, hoping for that whole ‘Sliding Doors’ thing. I could meet my Mr Right then!”

FITNESS FAN

But Ferne, 27, adds that a bad experience of using dating apps after she split with boyfriend of six years Charlie Sims in 2015 means she’ll be steering clear of online dating.

She says, “I wouldn’t do a dating app again because when Charlie and I split up, I was on Tinder and people were screenshotting my profile and sharing it! I want to meet someone organically and in real life, rather than online.”

As well as feeling more positive, Ferne is looking better than ever, having slimmed down from a pre-pregnancy size 12 to a toned size 8 after having Sunday. And she admits that her busy lifestyle and scheduled fitness sessions with close pal Danielle Armstrong are what keep her in shape – but insists she still allows herself a treat every so often.

She reveals, “I feel good in myself – I’m really into fitness. My life is so busy, but I always make time to go to the gym. I have weekly slots, three times a week for an hour, with Danielle. Breastfeeding helped, too.

“I’m all about big dinners – I love getting loads of food at a restaurant and sharing it with everyone. Pizza is my favourite.”

Since having Sunday, Ferne has starred in her own reality show, First Time Mum, which documented her pregnancy and the first few weeks of motherhood. But it was rumoured to be the catalyst for a fallout with best friend Sam Faiers. Sources said Sam, who stars in her own hit reality show The Mummy Diaries, wasn’t happy that Ferne had gone down the same route in TV. However, last month, Ferne confirmed they were back on good terms when she shared a photo of them together at Sam’s sister Billie’s hen do in Ibiza.

FRIENDS AGAIN

She says, “We had a total ball, from start to finish. My cheekbones were aching towards the end because I couldn’t stop grinning. There’s been stuff in the press, but it wasn’t awkward at all with me and Sam. The pictures we uploaded having fun together said a thousand words, it said it all.”

But Ferne says the one drawback of the holiday was that it was the first time she’d left Sunday – and that she makes sure she cherishes their time together.

She adds, “It was a big deal leaving Sunday, but she was very good. She’s not a clingy child and she’s independent – almost too independent! We’d Facetime, but towards the end she wasn’t bothered.

“I absolutely love being a mum. It makes me proud of myself – and of all mums in general. She’s nearly one now and she’s growing up so fast! I’ve just got to make sure I appreciate every moment.”