‘I want marriage and kids with my new man’
Tuesday 17 January 2012
She’s been notoriously unlucky in love, with a string of exes and two marriages that left her bankrupt – but it seems Kerry Katona is ready to walk down the aisle again.
The mum-of-four, who admitted before Christmas she “couldn’t afford” to get divorced again if another marriage failed – has told pals she’s ready to marry and have kids with new boyfriend, Steve Alce.
Kerry, 31, who’s been dating part-time artist and warehouse worker Steve for just three months, said recently: “The more time we spend together, the more I think that marriage could be a reality. He’s wonderful!”
But friends of the star, who’s battled booze, drugs and depression in the past – have warned her to take things slowly to avoid heartbreak, after she told them she wants a “big, white wedding” then more kids.
A source says: “Kerry would love another baby, but she wants to get married first. She wants a big wedding and a magazine deal, but she’s always rushed into relationships and it’s never ended well. Friends are worried she’s charging in too soon.
“Kerry is already talking about finding a new place so they can set up home together. She feels like she’s finally found someone she wants to commit to and Steve feels the same, so she doesn’t see any problem with rushing it.”
Steve, who’s already father to two children from a previous relationship, spent Christmas with Kerry at her Surrey home.
A source reveals: “She posted pictures all over her Facebook page of him and all her family sat at a dinner table over the festive break. They looked very happy!”
Kerry revealed to Closer just before Christmas that getting hitched was definitely on the cards, saying: “I’m an old-fashioned girl deep down – I’d love to get married again and have two more children.”
Kerry has daughters Molly, 10, and Lilly-Sue, eight, with first husband Brian McFadden, 31, and Heidi, four, and son Max, three, with second husband, cab driver Mark Croft. Both marriages ended in disaster.
She wed former Westlife singer Brian – who last week got engaged to Irish reality star Vogue Williams – in 2002, but the marriage was almost over before it began when Kerry learned he’d cheated with a lap dancer days before they tied the knot.
The couple had a series of public slanging matches after splitting in September 2004 and their divorce was finalised in December 2006.
After another whirlwind romance, Kerry married Mark, 40, in February 2007. But, in 2010, she blamed him for getting her into drugs and blowing her millions on fast cars – leaving her bankrupt. Their divorce was finalised last September.
More recently, Kerry has had a string of failed romances, including one with Take Me Out contestant Dan Foden, 27, who split with her last April after six weeks – saying she was “too keen.”
Now friends fear history could repeat itself with Steve.
A source says: “They’ve tried to tell her she’s crazy for planning marriage and kids this early – they already have six kids between them and she might struggle to pay the school fees if she had a few more!”
“But Steve is keen on the idea too. She feels like life is too short and has always jumped in with both feet.”
By Sofia Zagzoule