Why Coronation Street’s Katie McGlynn refuses to go public with soap star lover – and how she’s keeping it ‘secret’

CORONATION Street star Katie McGlynn is determined to keep her romance with former EastEnders star Max Bowden under wraps. The 33-year-old actress sent tongues wagging when she was spotted passionately snogging the soap star hunk, 31, in the middle of the street in April. Katie McGlynn is determined to keep her romance with Max Bowden under wraps Credit: Shutterstock The pair were pictured kissing in the street in April Credit: Splash And behind-the-scenes the couple are very loved-up, but there’s a heartbreaking reason Katie is keen to keep her new romance hush-hush – and it’s to do with another famous former flame. Th Sun can exclusively reveal that Katie, who played Sinead Tinker on Corrie, has gone to extreme lengths to hide the couple’s relationship – which includes her recent birthday celebrations. Sign up for the Coronation Street newsletter Thank you! “Katie and Max have been trying to keep things super low-key since getting back together,” a source tells us. “She even told her friends to cut him out of the pics of her birthday trip to the Lakes last weekend and told everyone NOT to post any he was in.” Katie celebrated her 33rd birthday this weekend Credit: Instagram/katiexmcglynn Ricky and Katie broke up last June after two years of dating Credit: Instagram The insider added: “Katie was really burnt by how publicly her last relationship with TOWIE star Ricky Rayment played out and when it ended she was humiliated it was all over.” Katie, 33, split from Ricky, 35, last June after two years of dating. The pair’s romance played out publicly with Katie and Ricky often sharing loved-up snaps of them on social media until their bitter break-up. “This time she’s doing things differently – no hard launch, making her posts online all about her career and she won’t talk about Max publicly,” our source confirms. Most read in TV “It’s hard not to want to tell the world when you’re in love but she doesn’t want to risk another relationship hitting the rocks so publicly.” The Sun has contacted Katie’s representative for comment. Katie celebrated her 33rd birthday this week, enjoying a sunny few days away with friends – and Max – in the Lake District. Stunning in a white crop top and short skirt, with matching white cowboy boots, Katie couldn’t help but beam from ear to ear as she threw her hands up in the air and posed against a wholesome countryside backdrop. “33 never felt so good,” read her post caption. “Birthday weekend in the Lakes with my favourite people.” The TV star had a brief romance with Max, best known for playing Ben Mitchell on EastEnders, last October while they were both starring in the play, Murder at Midnight. At the time, sources told us Ricky was heartbroken over his ex’s new romance. “Ricky still cares about Katie and wants her to be happy, but of course, seeing the pictures of her kissing Max were a blow to him,” an insider said. “He wishes her the best, he would just rather not have seen those snaps while things are still pretty raw for him.” Katie and Max briefly split in December, but reunited back in April. Comment now