Are you really 'just friends'? Kerry Katona's new romance with toyboy Jonny Laidler heats up as he meets her mother

Sofia Eylül 30, 2022

By Emily Sheridan

She's claimed they're 'just friends' after being spotted together several times recently.

But it looks like Kerry Katona's burgeoning romance with toyboy Jonny Laidler is heating up after she introduced the male model to her mother Sue.

The pair were spotted cosying up together at a London pub together earlier this month, with mother-of-four Kerry hanging off Jonny's every word.

New couple alert: Kerry Katona and Jonny Laidler look loved up as they walk down the street in London earlier this month

According to the new issue of Reveal magazine, Leeds-born Jonny and Kerry also spent the night at Sue's house in Warrington on another date.

A source told the magazine: 'They turned up at Sue's house in the early hours of the morning and snuck out early the next day so they wouldn't be spotted.'

On August 10, Jonny tweeted Sue's mother, saying: 'It was lovely to meet you tonight.'

The reality TV star was first photographed cosying up to Jonny at the OK! magazine summer party last month.

Getting to know the family: Kerry has introduced Jonny to her mother Sue

Last week, she insisted: 'Jonny's a lovely lad and we've had a real laugh, but he's 24 and I'm 31. I'm not looking for a relationship.'

During her current trip in the U.S., where she's filming a new TV show with David Gest, she has been tweeting Jonny, who has asked when they can Skype.

A friend told Reveal that Kerry isn't going to rush into the romance though following her recent split from live-in lover Steve Alce after nine months together.

The pal said: 'Kerry plans to play it cool and not move him into her house. For now, both of them are looking at this as a casual thing, though Kerry definitely wants it to progress.'

With four children and two ex-husbands, Kerry is understandably wary of settling down again too fast.

Kerry has admitted she rushes into relationship and has promised to slow down with her next romance.

She moved Steve into her family home after just five months of dating earlier this year, but called things off last month.

She also had a fling with builder Steve Nuttall last year and a two-month romance with painter and decorator Adam Waldron the previous year.

Katona has previously been married to Irish singer Brian McFadden (2002-2004) and taxi driver Mark Croft (2007-2010).