Coleen Nolan has opened up about her decision to go public with her new boyfriend on Loose Women, revealing that he has already visited the set of the daytime show.
The 56-year-old introduced mystery man Michael Jones to fans this week with a joint OK magazine photoshoot and the pair's first interview.
The Loose Women star has kept her mystery boyfriend's identity under wraps until now after first meeting on dating app Tinder.
With a discussion that was teased throughout Tuesday’s Loose Women show, host Ruth Langsford introduced the segment by saying, “We can finally say his name.”
She said: “We obviously knew his name and have met him. Lovely, lovely, lovely guy.
Ruth turned to Coleen and asked: “You’re obviously used to this world, but how was Michael?”
Coleen described her boyfriend of seven months as “the most laid back, calm guy I’ve ever met”.
Of the couple’s debut photoshoot she said: “I was a nervous wreck. I was the one that was embarrassed, nervous, worried about him, because it’s just a strange world to come into and he has had a very lovely normal life.”
Coleen laughed: “Then I throw him in with all you lot.”
Michael is a fellow divorcee and the pair have discussed how they are enjoying blending their families together.
Coleen continued: “Normally I meet someone and they’ve either moved in within a week, or I’m pregnant or I’m married within the first month.
“This time I did want to keep it as private as possible. I think it’s helped me and him get to know each other. He brings such calm to my very hectic life.”
Fellow panellist Janet Street-Porter revealed Michael first came to the Loose Women set a couple of weeks ago.
Coleen said: “He was so excited to meet Janet. Here's a guy that wasn’t even scared of Janet. I said, ‘she will bite your head off if she doesn't like you’, but he said he couldn’t wait to meet Janet.”
Panellist Judi Love chipped in to say: “It’s nice to see you have someone that’s about Coleen.”
She asked: “What is it about him that made you think this is it?”
Coleen replied: “Initially, he was so the opposite of anyone I’ve ever met before or been out with before.
“That was freaking me out a bit. He just does everything. Although there’s too nice - he’s not too nice as in boring - he won’t let me get away with anything. He’s caring and laid back and helping me. I just wasn’t used to it.”
Opening up about their relationship to OK, Coleen praised Michael, who works in logistics for a supermarket chain, for helping her feel “calm” and happy.
Michael shared the apprehension he felt when he decided to swipe right after Coleen flashed up in his Tinder search last summer.
He told the magazine: “It was a bit of a dilemma. You think, 'Am I just swiping because I recognise her?' So I had to think about it and do it for the right reasons – not even for one minute thinking she’d reply anyway. The surprising thing for me was that once I’d swiped we were a match straight away, which meant that she’d already liked me.”
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV
