Kerry Katona has spoken about her new “blended family”. The former Atomic Kitten star is enjoying a romance with new man Paolo Margaglione after meeting him on the set of reality TV series Celebs Go Dating. The Atomic Kitten star split from her ex-fiancé Ryan Mahoney after six years last November and has been open about her journey to finding love again.
Viewers were pleased to see Kerry find happiness with Paolo on the reality show, and their bond has only gone from strength to strength since. As the programme came to an end, Kerry shared an adorable photo with her boyfriend as she said “it’s only the beginning” of their relationship.
Fans rushed to send their support and good wishes after the show ended. One said: “Absolutely loved seeing your journey and how you have grown”, while a second added: “Your chemistry is magical, it’s like it’s just you two in the room when you’re together.”
She has since revealed her kids have been introduced to his two daughters and they are all getting on well. In her column for OK! magazine, the mum-of-five explained: “I love spending time with his girls, it’s such a nice feeling to have little ones around again. We’ve blended our families together seamlessly and everything fits into place perfectly.”
Kerry, 45, is a mum to Molly, 23, and Lilly-Sue, 22, with first husband Brian McFadden, Heidi, 18, and Max, 17, with Mark Croft, and daughter DJ, 11, from her marriage to George Kay.
She recently acknowledged the “big age gap” with her new man, who is 34, but she insisted they have a special “connection.” During an appearance on the Suddenly Single podcast, Kerry explained: “The guy I’m with now [Paolo], there’s 11 years between us. It’s a big age gap, and it’s not something I’ve deliberately gone for.
“If someone matches that energy and you have that connection, where every atom in your body goes on fire … I’ve never had that. It’s like being sucker punched in the stomach. I’ve got it now!
“I hope it works, but even if it doesn’t, I’ll never forget this feeling. You see me falling in love [on Celebs Go Dating]. Even if this ends tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll have a feeling like this every again.
“I get really emotional because it scares me. He gets me flowers all the time. I got back from Marbella and there was this big spread of beautiful roses saying ‘welcome home beautiful’. I don’t need big diamonds, it’s the thought that means more.”
In the interview, Kerry also insisted she is a “long-term girl” in her relationships. She said: “If you go through my exes, you can count them on my hands. I’m a long-term girl. I don’t sleep around. I’m all or nothing.
“People go, ‘Oh here we go, another one!’ I was with Brian for seven years. I was with Mark for four. I was with George for five and a half, and my ex-partner Ryan [Mahoney] for six and a half.
“I don’t want to be on my own. My children are grown up. I’m a really loving and affectionate person. I’ve got so much love to give. I want to give someone kisses and cuddles. I love being in love. What’s wrong with that?”
Last month, Paolo celebrated his 34th birthday and Kerry took to Instagram to celebrate her new beau. She regularly updates her 938,000 followers on her busy life away from the spotlight.
Kerry gushed over her boyfriend as she shared a carousel of snaps of them together. She captioned the post with the heart-warming words: “Happy birthday to the most amazing human I have ever met @margafitness you are just beyond the most wonderful soul I’ve ever come across. I hope you have the most amazing day my baby.”
The photos included cosy selfies in the car and snaps of Paolo with Kerry’s children, to stunning photos of their holiday and days out together.