Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon: What Happened to Their Engagement?

It seems like only yesterday that the former popstars, Lee Ryan from Blue and Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten, announced their engagement. The couple had confirmed their plans to tie the knot back in 2003, but nothing else has been heard from them since. Many fans are curious to know if the couple are still together or have gone their separate ways. In this article, we’ll look at what happened to the engagement of Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon.

Introduction: Who are Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan?


Lee Ryan is an English singer-songwriter and actor, best known as a member of the English boy band Blue. Born in Chatham, Kent in 1983, Lee has been a prominent figure in the music industry since 2000.

His long dating history includes well-known names such as Atomic Kitten singer Liz McClarnon. In 2001, they began their relationship, which lasted for two years and was widely reported on in the media due to the status of both parties as members of prominent pop bands at the time.

Liz McClarnon was one of the founding members of the girl group Atomic Kitten, which was formed in 1998. The group achieved international success with hit singles like “Whole Again” and “Eternal Flame“.

After leaving Atomic Kitten in 2006, Liz appeared as a contestant on the British TV show “Celebrity Love Island”, and launched her solo career, releasing her debut single “Woman in Love” in 2006.

Unfortunately, the couple split in 2003 and Liz later moved on to other relationships. Meanwhile, Lee went on to date a number of other women, making headlines in 2014 when he became embroiled in a love triangle on Celebrity Big Brother.

More recently, Lee tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend Verity Paris in a secret ceremony in Gibraltar in 2022. The couple have been together for two years and seem to be going from strength to strength.

How old is Liz from Atomic Kitten?

Liz McClarnon was born Elizabeth Margaret McClarnon on 10 April 1981.

So, how old is Liz McClarnon? Well, Liz McClarnon is currently 39 years old. As she was born on 10 April 1981, that makes her age 39 at the time of writing. Her time with Atomic Kitten spanned from 1998 to 2004, and she has since gone on to pursue a successful solo career. She has released a number of successful solo singles and albums, and has made appearances on various television shows.

Liz McClarnon is a successful pop star who has achieved a lot in her 39 years of life. She’s a talented singer, songwriter, dancer, television presenter, and actress. She’s also a former member of the chart-topping girl group Atomic Kitten. While her engagement to Lee Ryan didn’t last, she’s still one of the most recognizable figures in the British pop music industry.

Overview of Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan’s Relationship


Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon’s relationship has been the subject of public fascination for years. The two singers, who were both members of popular bands in the early 2000s, first began dating in 2001 after being introduced by a mutual friend.

The pair had an on-off relationship for several years before eventually splitting in late 2003. During their time together, the couple were often seen out and about at parties, attending red carpet events, and living the high life.

The couple had a tumultuous relationship, with rumors of cheating, fights and breakups frequently making headlines. Despite their issues, the two even got engaged in 2003. However, their engagement was short-lived as they ended their relationship shortly afterwards.

In the years following their split, both Ryan and McClarnon have moved on with their lives. Ryan is now married to his long-term partner, while McClarnon is rumoured to be engaged to a mystery man, based on a shock post on her Instagram back in March 2022.

While their relationship didn’t work out in the end, it is clear that Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon shared a unique connection that will remain a part of pop culture history.

Timeline of Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan’s Engagement

Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon’s engagement was one of the most talked-about topics in the UK music industry at the time. The couple had been dating since 2001, when they both were members of Britain’s biggest bands – Lee being part of Blue, and Liz as a member of Atomic Kitten.

In 2003, Lee decided to pop the question in a hotel in Oxford. This news quickly spread, creating a media frenzy and intensifying the spotlight on their relationship.

Unfortunately, soon after their engagement, Liz decided to call off the whirlwind romance. This caused widespread shock and was covered in depth by news outlets such as People, The Daily Mail, and The Metro.

Here is a timeline of Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan’s relationship:

2001: Lee and Liz began dating.

2003: Lee proposed to Liz in a hotel in Oxford.

2003: Liz decided to call off the engagement shortly after.

Reasons Behind Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan’s Separation

Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon’s engagement was one of the most talked about topics in the entertainment industry, but their relationship eventually came to an end. So what could be the reason behind their separation?

The most plausible explanation is that Liz was not comfortable with being in the public eye. In an interview with Closer magazine, Liz admitted that she didn’t like having her relationship with Lee out in the open. She said, “I’d never date another celebrity again. I was engaged to Lee and I didn’t like having our relationship in the spotlight. For me, it leads to paranoia. You read things about each other and wonder who said what. Dating a celebrity makes your relationship too public and I like to keep my private life private.”

It seems that Liz’s desire for privacy and Lee’s celebrity status proved to be too much of a challenge for their relationship. Although they had been together for several years, they ultimately decided to call it quits due to their conflicting needs.

Furthermore, Liz also revealed that her own experiences as a celebrity had taken a toll on her mental health. She felt that the constant scrutiny had led to paranoia and anxiety. Hence, it can be assumed that she wanted to avoid the same situation by keeping her relationship with Lee away from the public eye.

Indeed, she’s intentionally kept her latest relationship well out of the spotlight.

We have no idea who her mystery fiance is! Liz has managed to keep his full name and image out of reach of even the most desperate paparazzi.

In conclusion, it appears that Liz McClarnon and Lee Ryan’s separation was driven by Liz’s need for privacy and her dislike of being in the public eye. The couple had a strong connection but ultimately, their different desires and expectations led to the end of their engagement.

Impact of the Separation on Liz McClarnon’s Career

When news broke out of the separation between Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon, it caused a media frenzy. Newspapers and magazines were quick to discuss the couple’s sudden breakup, and the impact it might have on Liz McClarnon’s career.

Liz McClarnon, who rose to fame as part of the girl band Atomic Kitten, had been dating Lee Ryan for three years. While the couple kept their relationship mostly private, they were spotted together at events and had been seen posting pictures together on social media.

The news of their separation left fans of the couple in shock, and many were eager to know what would happen to Liz McClarnon’s career. After all, Liz was riding high in her career with girl band Atomic Kitten, and was looking to take this to the next level by touring internationally.

Picture of Liz McClarnon

Fortunately, Liz was able to pick up the pieces of her career and move forward. Atomic Kitten returned to the spotlight with the release of their self-titled album in the States. Later that year, they went on to release their third album ‘Ladies Night‘, which was a top 5 UK album chart success, and spawned four UK top 10 singles.

Since then, Liz has gone from strength to strength, including the release of two successful solo singles, and appearing on stage and TV. She has also more reunited with her former bandmates to tour, and release a new single in support of England’s 2020 football European Championships campaign.

Overall, while the separation between Liz and Lee Ryan was difficult, she managed to overcome the obstacles and come back stronger than ever. Her resilience and determination have undoubtedly been an inspiration to her fans, proving that no matter how challenging life can be, it is still possible to achieve success and happiness.

Impact of the Separation on Lee Ryan’s Career

The separation of Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon didn’t have a significant impact on Lee’s career. After the couple announced their split in 2003, his band Blue released their third album, ‘Guilty‘. Despite the album reaching No. 1 in the UK Album Chart and No. 7 in Italy, it didn’t manage to produce a number one single.

The title track was the pick of the bunch, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, and another three UK top 20 singles followed from the LP. This included a duet with Stevie Wonder on a cover of his classic, ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)‘.

However, this was to be Blue’s last successful album. Lee’s short-lived solo career followed, with one album and two top-ten UK singles.

In an attempt to revive their career, Ryan and his Blue bandmates represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song “I Can“. Unfortunately, Lee and the boys placed 11th overall, and their appearance failed to spark the comeback they were hoping for.

In 2014, Ryan appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 13, where he entered a relationship with fellow Big Brother participant Jasmine Waltz. The relationship was short-lived as Waltz split with Ryan a few weeks later claiming on Twitter that Ryan had cheated on her with a man. This scandal resulted in a further decline in Ryan’s career as his reputation was damaged significantly.

Lee Ryan’s career has been a rollercoaster ride, but he’s managed to remain relevant in the music and entertainment industry despite the highs and lows in his career. While the success of some of his projects have been short-lived, both his work with Blue and his solo tracks continue to get played in 2023.

Other Relationships of Liz McClarnon Since the Separation

Since Liz McClarnon’s separation from Lee Ryan in 2004, the singer has had a few relationships. In the years that followed their break-up, Liz was linked to several different men, including former Swansea City striker, Lee Trundle, and rugby player Ryan O’Neill.

Liz has also been linked to other celebrities such as football Frank Lampard, and Westlife singer Kian Egan. It is not known if any of these relationships were romantic or just friendships.

Prior to her relationship with Lee, Liz was with her childhood beau and warehouse manager, Tommy Hibbs. Liz told the Daily Record that her relationship with Lee wasn’t a patch on her previous relationship:

“We were just having a laugh and it was always going to be nothing more than just bit of fun which lasted a while. We never said we were going to be steady boyfriend and girlfriend or anything like that. The truth is I haven’t been in love since Tommy.”

Now, after almost two decades, Liz has finally found the one and is set to tie the knot with her long-term partner.

Is Liz from Atomic Kitten married?


The answer to this question is currently a definitive no. But she is engaged!

Liz McClarnon, one of the members of the British girl group Atomic Kitten, recently announced her engagement to her mysterious fiancé in a shock announcement. She shared a snap of herself embracing her fiancé on Instagram, with her large diamond engagement ring visible on her finger.

The Atomic Kitten singer, 40, revealed her engagement news in the caption of the post, wishing her husband-to-be a happy birthday. She posted on her Instagram @lizmcclarnon back in March 2022: “YEP! I’m going to marry the most beautiful human I’ve ever known and it’s his birthday today”, alongside a black-and-white photo of her sporting a diamond engagement ring.

The post also attracted a flurry of congratulations from her famous friends, including bandmate Natasha Hamilton.

Despite the excitement surrounding her upcoming nuptials, Liz has kept the identity of her partner a secret and has been quite vocal about her desire to keep her private life private. This may be due in part to her past relationships, which she admitted had led to paranoia and scrutiny from the press.

Liz McClarnon and her mystery fiance
Credit: Instagram [@lizmcclarnon]

However, in later Instagram posts, she’s talked about being out for a meal with a man called Pete, which may be a hint as to his identity.

Judging by the date of her Instagram post announcing the engagement, his birthday’s also on 31 March. If you can work out who he is, please get in touch and let us know!

So, while Liz McClarnon is engaged to be married, she is not yet married and is yet to announce when the wedding will take place.

We wish the couple all the best and look forward to seeing them walk down the aisle soon!

Other Relationships of Lee Ryan Since the Separation

Since the separation of Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon, Ryan has had several other relationships.

In 2014, Ryan appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 13. During this time, Ryan began a relationship with fellow Big Brother participant Jasmine Waltz. Unfortunately, their relationship was short-lived and Waltz later claimed on Twitter that Ryan had cheated on her with a man. CBB was also the catalyst for Ryan coming out as bisexual, saying that doing so on the show was the “easiest way to come out”.

He also admitted to having sexual relations with his Blue bandmate Duncan James, claiming in an interview that they go on holiday together, live together, and have sex all the time.

In addition to his relationships with Waltz and James, Ryan has also dated Samantha Millar and Jessica Keevil, with whom he has two children. In March 2022, Ryan married his wife Verity Paris, who is an X-Factor contestant and singer. The couple were together for two years prior to their marriage.

Conclusion: Summary of the Story

The long-term relationship between Blue singer Lee Ryan and Liz McClarnon had a tragic ending. After dating for around two years, Lee proposed to Liz in 2003 in a hotel in Oxford. Unfortunately, their engagement was short-lived as the couple split the very same year.

The story of Lee and Liz has been a rollercoaster ride that has left many fans wondering what happened and why the engagement ended abruptly. Although the exact cause of their break-up is unknown, Liz has hinted in interviews that she didn’t like the relationship being in the public eye, and her feelings for Lee weren’t as intense as we might have thought.

In any case, the story of Lee and Liz serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of life and relationships.