Kym Marsh has split from her younger boyfriend Samuel Thomas, 29, six months after going public with their romance. The former Coronation Street actress, 48, described the actor as her 'soulmate' when they began dating, but the pair decided to separate during the festive period.
The couple met while performing together in the musical tour of 101 Dalmatians, where Marsh played Cruella De Vil and Thomas portrayed Tom Dearly. Their relationship blossomed shortly after the breakdown of Marsh's third marriage to Army Major Scott Ratcliff. They went Instagram official in July, posting affectionate tributes.
A source said the spark faded after Marsh's role in the musical ended last year: 'Once Kym’s role in 101 Dalmatians ended it became harder to spend time together and some of the magic they had at the beginning just disappeared.' The couple had found it tough to maintain their connection while touring.
Marsh and Thomas faced criticism over their 19-year age gap, with trolls accusing her of jumping into another romance. Thomas hit back at critics on social media, writing a since-deleted post: 'Opinions are like a**eholes... everyone's got one, but they're still a**eholes.' Marsh also got a Cruella De Vil tattoo to commemorate the musical.
Thomas had previously reflected on a 'bittersweet day' as the tour ended, writing in November: 'Falling in love with you and being with you is the very best thing that could’ve happened.' The split comes after Marsh surrounded herself with family during the festive period.
