He’s known for his time on Made In Chelsea , but these days Ryan Libbey is more focused on endurance races than reality TV. The 35-year-old personal trainer and wellness advocate has been in the spotlight since 2016, thanks to his relationship with Louise Thompson, who he met on the show.
The couple got engaged during a romantic getaway to Los Angeles in 2018 and are now parents to three-year-old Leo. But their journey hasn’t been easy, with Louise’s traumatic childbirth and ongoing health battles propelling Ryan into full-time caregiving mode. He was also forced to confront his own mental health, and has admitted to “very real feelings of isolation, desperation and most likely depression”.
Now, Ryan is on a mission to redefine masculinity and is channelling his experiences into meaningful projects, from running wellness communities to competing in ultramarathons in the Sahara Desert. He also hosts a podcast with Louise. Here, he opens up about growth, grief and going the distance…
Hi Ryan. You’ve been very open about your experiences following Leo’s birth. How did it affect you personally?
It took chunks out of me. Louise was unwell and away from parenting for the first 10 months, so I was Leo’s sole caregiver. I hit a low point – possibly depression. I didn’t realise it until family pointed it out. Eventually, I had to take a four-day break to reset. It was hard but transformative. We’ve matured as a family and I’ve become passionate about men speaking openly about emotions.
How has your relationship with Louise evolved through it?
One word: communication. I had to learn all about love languages. Louise’s love language is about quality time and words of affirmation, whereas mine is acts of service. I stopped trying to fix everything. Once I did that, everything changed. We’re in a much better place now. Despite the challenges, we’re stronger than ever.
Do you think having Leo has changed your identity?
Completely. It took me two years to accept my role as a dad. The first two years were chaotic. But now, at three years old, he’s got this amazing personality.
You host the He Said, She Said podcast with Louise. What do you learn about each other through it?
A lot! Louise says she learns a new thing about me in each episode. Nothing is scripted – we hit record and talk real life. It started with parenthood but evolved into relationships and lifestyle. People now recognise us from the podcast more than TV. That authenticity cuts through. It’s like public therapy.
You paused your wedding plans. Is there an update there?
Yes! We’ve registered our intent to marry. The process has officially started. We’re still deciding – either something small like a town hall wedding and party, or abroad.
Will Sam [Thompson, Louise’s brother] be your best man?
[laughs] He’d probably assume so. We’re very close now. We live next to each other, hang out all the time – even
just us two having chats about life.
What’s your next big goal?
I want to keep doing things that make me proud, so I can share them with Leo some day. Like when he studies the Sahara, I can tell him, “I ran there.” I’ll probably do an Ironman. I met Joe Wicks recently – he did one and said it was brutal. He recognised me from the podcast. I tried messaging him for tips, but he ghosted me.
You’ve teamed up with Powerade for a campaign. Do you love running?
Running hasn’t always been my thing. It wasn’t something I was drawn to. But after everything with Louise’s health I needed an outlet. I was invited to do the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert, which was way out of my comfort zone. The race is meant for elite athletes, but I threw myself into the process. It gave me a new outlet. Since then, I’ve enjoyed running more.
You’re an ambassador for Blue Monday Run Club. Why Mondays?
They set the tone. When I ran a wellness community called The Turtle Method, we emphasised mindset.
I believe if you win Monday, the rest of the week follows. For example, today I got up early, exercised, did an ice bath, walked the dogs, got Leo to school and came into the office ready to go.
What advice do you have for anyone who hates Mondays?
Break it down. Starting a habit like running is overwhelming if you go too hard too fast. Start with interval running or even walking. Doing it in a group helps, too.
Do you and Louise train together? What about Leo?
We have a gym at home and most mornings Leo comes in with his milk and watches me train. It’s my favourite part of the day. Louise is easing back in. Sometimes I come home from run club and she’s like, “I wish I’d come, too.”
Ryan has teamed up with Poweradefor its ‘Pause is Power’ campaign, to encourage us to take an intentional pause from our daily routines