Katherine Ryan discusses her civil partnership with her childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra after they reunited following 20-year absence
She’s known for her acerbic wit and no-holds barred stand-up routines.
But Katherine Ryan showed her sentimental side on Saturday when she told Peter Crouch about her low-key civil partnership ceremony to childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra.
The comedian, 37, joined the former footballer for the BBC‘s new lockdown series Save Our Summer where she explained she and Bobby had dated as teenagers.
Blushing bride: Katherine Ryan showed her sentimental side on Saturday when she spoke about her about her low-key civil partnership ceremony to childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra
The Mock the Week star said: ‘I decided to get married basically because I got together with my high school boyfriend. His name is Bobby and we were together when I was 15 or 16 and then we got back together 20 years later. Isn’t that pathetic??’
The pair were struck once again by Cupid’s arrow when they met by chance in Katherine’s local pub.
The stunning blonde explained that 20 years on, they had both matured and quipped that her civil partner’s divorce had had a mellowing effect.
Revealing: The comedian, 37, joined former footballer Peter Crouch for the BBC’s new lockdown series Save Our Summer where she explained she and Bobby had dated as teenagers
Like a fine wine: The stunning redhead explained that 20 years on, they had both matured and quipped that her civil partner’s divorce had had a mellowing effect
‘Katherine said: ‘Bobby had a life of 20 years while I wasn’t with him, he’s divorced. I love divorced men, it really humbles them.
‘He he used to be cocky, he had some growing up to do and now I like him a lot more. He is very different from high school. He has this cool calm energy.’
In her trademark self-deprecating style, Katherine joked that she looks unrecognisable from her 15-year-old self and is unsure if Bobby has realised they used to date.
She said: ‘It’s very different. Literally speaking, a lot of my face is different. I don’t even know if he knows I’m his high school girlfriend.’
The Canadian comic looked elegant in a black peasant dress sporting a plunging neckline and a rather apt red love-heart motif which complemented her wavy blonde tresses.
After an impromptu game of swingball with British rapper Tinie Tempah, Katherine told Peter that she and Bobby had held their informal ceremony in Denmark last September.
She explained: ‘We had a civil ceremony in Denmark, then I got back on a plane because I had a gig that night. I wore the same dress that I wore to the wedding to the gig.’
Luckily for her fellow passengers, the Safeword star had shunned the traditional bridal meringue and opted for an elegant mint green midi dress with a flared skirt and a pearl encrusted headband.
Green goddess: Katherine took to Instagram last September to share several images of her civil partnership in Denmark
When Tinie asked about her gown, Katherine answered: ‘It was a cool mint Valentino, just a dress. In the same way I’m not a birthday person, I’m not a wedding person. I didn’t want a white dress, that ship has sailed.’
The stand-up queen joked that she kept the ceremony small as she didn’t want to invite lots of people and be forced to speak to them.
The mother of one went on to reveal that the Canadian immigration service left no stone unturned when ensuring her relationship with Bobby was the real deal.
She said: ‘They want to make sure your relationship is genuine, they take it very seriously, they’re like “where is this going to go? show us your texts.” I picked out the nastiest one because I wanted to get a civil servant a thrill.’
Sweet: Katherine and her civil-partner Bobby on their special day last September, after a ceremony attended only by their nearest and dearest