Lucy Mecklenburgh cuts a low-key figure as she picks up some shopping

Lucy Mecklenburgh dressed casual in grey leggings and a padded jacket on Friday for a trip to Aldi, after her partner Ryan Thomas revealed a current ‘strain’ on their relationship.

The former Coronation Street hunk, 36, said that travelling to Manchester to visit his daughter Scarlett, 12, has affected their relationship. 

And his fiancée, 29, kept a low profile as she picked up groceries at her local supermarket in Essex before heading home. 

She layered a grey top with a white tee which complemented her spotless white trainers. 

Prioritising safety, Lucy sported a black face mask as she left the store with a trolley full of supplies. 

The former TOWIE star swept her brunette tresses back in a low bun and decided to wear minimal make-up for the outing. 

Lucy appeared deep in thought as she talked to someone on her mobile phone before returning to her vehicle.  

The shopping trip comes after her partner Ryan explained how it’s important to make things work and balance his family life between the two cities.

The former Coronation Street star lives in Essex with Lucy and their son Roman, 11 months, but Scarlett lives in Manchester with her mother, actress Tina O’Brien, 37.

Speaking in his podcast Mancs on the Mic with brothers Scott and Adam Thomas, he said: ‘I know I’ve got Scarlett [who] I have to keep going back and forward for… 

‘That puts a strain on our relationship because I’m not with her [Lucy] because I’ve gotta get back for Scarlett.  

‘There is that trying to find a mix of making both work and working out where you’re going to end.’

Ryan admitted he would like to relocate to Manchester with Lucy and Roman on a full-time basis in the future, but for the time being it’s ‘easier’ for the family to be in Essex. 

He continued: ‘I think eventually I’d like to be in Manchester with both my kids, but at the moment it’s having that help at hand in London it’s just easier.

‘But I think eventually I would love to be back where I started with all my brothers and all our kids.

‘I think that’s what’ll happen eventually but we’re just taking it a day at a time. I think that’s what you’ve got to do with this family life.’

Lucy and Ryan have been together since meeting on reality show Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017.

The former soap actor proposed during a romantic trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy in June 2019, with Lucy finding out she was pregnant with Roman soon after they returned. 

The TV star recently purchased a new family home in Manchester, which will no doubt make it easier to juggle family life. 

Lucy recently shared a glimpse of their new home that they plan to renovate and branded her fiancé a ‘brave man’ after he purchased the home without her seeing it. 

This week, Lucy and Ryan have shared a glimpse of their renovation process on social media, with Ryan seen working hard stripping off wallpaper and pulling up carpet.

Meanwhile, Ryan revealed he quit acting after a slew of failed auditions and being trolled for his Neighbours stint. 

The former Corrie star admitted he ‘lost the bug’ for performing after struggling to land roles, just days after revealing he’d been working as a delivery driver for his brother Adam’s restaurant.

Ryan added that he found it ‘really hard’ being criticised for his performances and has no intention to act again, instead focusing on other TV projects with his brothers Scott and Adam.

Speaking on the siblings’ Mancs On The Mic podcast, Ryan said: ‘It’s so hard for me. I started off acting, I started off in that game and I really lost the bug for it. 

‘I feel the reason for losing the bug is rejection and going to auditions and not getting them.’