Ulrika Jonsson defends Kym Marsh from 'jealous trolls' over the 19-year age gap with her boyfriend

Ulrika Jonsson has defended Kym Marsh over the 19-year age gap with her new boyfriend. The former Gladiators host has spoken out after the 48-year-old actress was criticised for her new romance with singer and vocal coach Samuel Thomas, 29.

Samuel appears to have met the actress when they started working together on 101 Dalmatians - The Musical. Kym landed the role of Disney's iconic villain Cruella de Vil earlier this year and started touring with the production last month.

Weeks after hitting the road with the stage version of the much-loved film, Kym and Samuel confirmed they were an item. The former Coronation Street star took to social media to reveal that she has found her 'soulmate' after falling for a lover 19 years her junior after meeting him in her new role.

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Sharing a picture of herself and Samuel sharing a smooch, Kym wrote on Instagram: "Met the most amazing man ever! Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. @samuelthomasuk I love you #beautiful #soulmate #loveyou."

It didn't take long for comments to come flooding in with no everyone supportive or kind about the new couple's romance. Now, addressing the backlash, Ulrika wrote for The Sun: "Lest we forget, trolls rarely, if ever, say things from a place of love. These comments came from a place of discomfort, jealousy and with the sole aim of shaming."

The 56-year-old star noted that she has similarly been married three times and has kids "by different fathers", but she also isn't giving up on the idea of love. She said: "With three marriages under her belt and children by different fathers, how very dare she fall in love again with someone she is already calling her 'soul mate'?"

"This kind of behaviour makes people feel deeply uncomfortable. It doesn't sit well with them. In fact, I'm sure many would prefer her to be miserable and broken-hearted until the end of time. Here she is in all her amorous glory, showing the world her quest for love has, once more, succeeded. I'm thrilled for her."

Ulrika pointed out that "things have changed", with people "living longer" and divorce no longer carrying the same "stigma". She continued: "Kym doesn't give up. I don't understand why people can't see that as a virtue, as tenacious and courageous. She runs her own race."

"Although, historically, women probably suffered greater shame and disgrace as divorcees, we are learning to see the end of relationships or marriages is not a 'failure'. Things run their course, people change, circumstances change and we know now we don't have to shut up and put up for the rest of our lives."