Katherine Ryan admits she had given up on love before reconnecting with husband Bobby Kootstra

Katherine Ryan says she happily resigned herself to being single after having a boob job and ‘deliberately’ falling pregnant before marrying childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra.

The comedian, 37, exchanged vows with Kootsra – who she first dated as a teenager – during a civil partnership in 2019. 

But in an interview with The Times she admits to having already come to terms with being a single mother following the collapse of her relationship with 11-year old daughter Violet’s father.  

Opening up:  Katherine Ryan admits she had happily resigned herself to being a single mother after having a boob job and ‘deliberately’ falling pregnant before meeting husband Bobby Kootstra

She explained: ‘I truly became authentically happy being single. My plan was to be single for life. 

‘I thought I can have as many dogs as I want, I can do the kitchen as I want, I’m not accountable to a partner. I think that’s a fine shape of a family if that’s what you want.’

Then a waitress with global bar chain Hooters, native Canadian Ryan arrived in the UK to open a new branch in Nottingham in 2007 before relocating permanently with Violet’s father the following year. 

And the comedian admits she soon made the decision to fall pregnant after being  diagnosed with Lupus – an incurable condition that affects the immune system – triggering concerns over her fertility. 

Proud mum:  Katherine had originally accepted singlehood following the collapse of her relationship with 11-year old daughter Violet’s father 

She said: ‘I got pregnant very much on purpose because I was really frightened of these worst-case scenarios. 

‘I made a conscious decision that I wanted to be a mother and I thought I might as well have my daughter now.’ 

Now a successful comedian and presenter, Ryan admits she loved her old waitressing job with Hooters – famed for its scantily clad female staff and easy going atmosphere. 

Old times: Katherine exchanged vows with Kootstra.  – who she first dated as a teenager – during a civil partnership in 2019. Pictured: Katherine and Bobby at their school prom

Plans:  The pair are now looking ahead to the prospect of having their first child as a couple in order to give Violet a sibling

And she says she felt happier after opting to have breast enlargement surgery while still employed with the chain in order to ‘balance out’ her general body shape. 

‘I wish I could say that it didn’t,’ she said. ‘I know that the right answer is “no”, that you should never treat your body like a trend or have a general anaesthetic to put bags of silicone in, but unfortunately that isn’t how I feel. I loved having breast implants.’ 

Ryan’s relationship with her only child’s father eventually faltered, and she had embraced her independence before reconnecting with Kootstra while filming an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? 

Unsure: Katherine admits she was initially sceptical of her feelings towards Bobby after they reconnected in Canada (the couple are pictured with Katherine’s daughter Violet)

Ryan had returned to her native Canada to make an episode of the BBC show, and while there, she reunited with Bobby, her boyfriend from high school in the industrial town of Sarnia, Ontario.

However the comedian admits she was initially sceptical of her feelings towards him. 

Speaking in 2020, she told the Daily Mail: ‘I tried to resist, I looked for reasons not to go ahead with the partnership because I genuinely loved my independent life. 

But everything was just so easy between us, and Bobby genuinely fitted in around both me and my daughter; he was an asset to both of us.’  

Together: The comedian shared a selfie with husband Bobby from their home on Thursday