Ryan has no regrets over CBB despite his row with Roxanne
Ex Emmerdale actress Roxanne, who left the house following her claims that he had ‘repeatedly punched’ her while playfully sparring in the kitchen, later reviewed the footage and apologised to Ryan and his family and friends, admitting she had overreacted.
The popular father-of-one, who played Jason Grimshaw in Corrie, received a flood of support and went on to win the 22nd and final series of the reality show on Channel Five.
“No matter what went on in there, I have no regrets about doing the show,” he says in this week’s OK! Magazine.
“It was scary to show people the real Ryan Thomas, but I’m grateful people liked what they saw.
“Every time I go out I get people stopping me to say hello and wanting to give me a hug. After my time on Coronation Street, I didn’t think the level of attention could get any bigger, but it’s grown since CBB. “People don’t call me Jason Grimshaw any more, they call me Ryan.” Ryan, who broke down in tears in the house over the incident, told host Emma Willis that Roxanne’s accusations had been ‘totally unexpected’ and left him fearing that police would pay him a visit. He’s now planning to buy a house with his girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh in Manchester in the new year, and he says former The Only Way Is Essex star Lucy has been dropping hints about him proposing. Ryan Thomas
Ryan met Lucy on the survival show Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls last year and the pair found romance while stranded with a bunch of other celebs on the remote island.
Lucy supported her man throughout his turbulent time in the CBB house and said the way the Manchester actor handled the situation had made her fall in love with him ‘all over again.’
Read the full story in this week’s OK! Magazine, out today.