Coronation Street stars Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas began dating in 2003 and welcomed a daughter one year before their split in 2009.

Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas were once Coronation Street’s It couple. They met on the set of the ITV soap in 2000, when Ryan joined the cast as Jason Grimshaw.

Tina, who turns 41 today (August 7), landed the role of Sarah Platt one year prior. They began dating in 2003, shortly after Tina split from Bruno Langley, who played Ryan’s on-screen brother Todd Grimshaw.

At the time, the actress gushed that she and Ryan were “for keeps”, adding: “We’ll be together forever, fingers crossed. I can’t see myself with anyone else.” Their characters later began a relationship and the couple were due to tie the knot in 2007, however, Jason got cold feet and jilted his bride-to-be at the altar.

Meanwhile, Tina and Ryan’s relationship appeared to be going from strength to strength and the couple went on to welcome a daughter, Scarlett, in 2008. However, things came crashing down the following year when Ryan ended their romance for good.

They met on the set of Coronation Street (Image: PA)

Tina confessed their romance had been under strain because having a baby changed the dynamic of their relationship. Ryan told Tina he no longer loved her just one week before Scarlett’s first birthday.

“He said I didn’t do it for him anymore. I was absolutely devastated,” Tina told New! magazine after their breakup. “He said he didn’t want the responsibility of a relationship with me.”

She added: “Ryan can be a very loving and nice guy, but he can also be laddy. He was keen to go out a lot.” Tina eventually moved on with Adam Crofts in 2011 and the couple welcomed a baby boy three years later.

The two families spent Christmas together that same year and Ryan was even invited to their wedding, which took place in 2018. In 2016, the soap star told The Sun: “Everyone has moved on and is in a happy place. Ryan is really happy and we are happy, so there aren’t any issues.”

Ryan ended his relationship with Tina in 2009, one year after she gave birth to their daughter (Image: Getty Images)

Although Tina had put her heartbreak behind her, she confessed it had “taken a lot of years and a lot of biting my tongue” to get to that place. Praising Tina’s partner, Ryan said: “Adam is cool, he’s just a lovely guy. As a stepfather in Scarlett’s life, I’ve hit the jackpot. She adores him.”

While everything seemed amicable on the surface, things turned tense behind the scenes when Ryan announced that his partner, former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh, was expecting their first child.

The ex-soap star shared a video of Waterloo Road actress Scarlett crying on social media, taken the moment she learned she was going to be a big sister.

While Lucy insisted the youngster was crying “happy tears”, others believe Tina wasn’t convinced as days later, she shared a quote on Instagram which said: “Don’t always trust what you see on social media. Even salt looks like sugar.”

Tina married Adam Crofts in 2018 (Image: Manchester Evening News)

The post was later deleted, leading fans to speculate that it was about Lucy and Ryan. Another cryptic message was shared by Tina shortly after, saying: “Don’t waste your time with explanations. People will hear what they want to hear.”

Whatever the issue between the former couple, it escalated in 2022 after Tina was accused of smashing Ryan’s car up with a baseball bat.

They reportedly became embroiled in a furious late-night row which led to Tina vandalising the car. According to The Sun, Ryan’s wing mirror was broken off and paintwork on his Range Rover was damaged.

“Ryan and Tina have a fractious relationship. They are not on good terms and that tension boiled over,” a source told the publication. “Tina, who was at a pal’s house party, came out into the street to meet him as he drove up.”

They added: “Soon after that his car was damaged with the baseball bat. It was quite a disturbing incident and Ryan drove away as soon as he could. They’ve not spoken since and Ryan is furious.”

Ryan Thomas’ bold move when buying house with fiancé Lucy Mecklenburgh and blended family (Image: Instagram/Lucy Mecklenburgh)

In 2023, Tina appeared to reignite her feud with Ryan, calling out a “narcissistic father” in an Instagram Story which was later deleted. The soap star admitted she “deeply resonates” with the quote, which also branded the father a “bully” as well as a “cruel lying arrogant person”.

The full quote said: “The tyrannical narcissistic father is a bully – a cruel, lying, arrogant person. He is a tyrant that is totally entrenched in his grandiose world and insistent that everyone follow his commands.

“He is emotionally abusive and can cause significant emotional damage to all family members. Unfortunately, his behaviours cause the relationships within a family to be toxic and can cause lifelong wounds.”

She added alongside the message: “Thankfully not my dad… but a dad that I know very well… deeply resonates.”