Handsome, twice-married TV star Ryan Phelan can now be revealed as the besotted “Mr Big” who inspired outspoken high-class hooker Samantha X to stop turning tricks and start a “brand-new life” with him.
The unusual couple returned to Sydney last week after a lavish European holiday together.
Samantha farewelled Ryan with a passionate kiss when she dropped him at his bachelor pad after their romantic break.
Last month the former beauty editor, whose real name is Amanda Goff, announced she was retiring from sex work and posted a photo of her last ever client, a 76-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease – before leaving for Europe with 42-year-old Ryan, the newsreader for The Morning Show and The Daily Edition.
“After six wonderful years as Samantha, I am hanging up my Louboutins to move onto a brand new life…” she told her thousands of social media followers.
WATCH: Samantha X on if seeing a sex worker is cheating. Post continues…
The pair have just returned from a romantic holiday in Europe together.
“This isn’t a ‘I’m taking a break but I’ll be back’ blog – this is it. The end of escorting for me, but the beginning of something even more wonderful… It wasn’t always easy, but I wouldn’t change a single thing… Now for the next chapter.”
Samantha has spent the past few weeks teasing her followers about the identity of the man who convinced her to give up the sex trade, posting clues from all over Greece and Italy.
When she released her second book, Back On Top, earlier this year, she promised it would detail “falling in love with Mr Big (while still managing to sneak in a few clients)”, but his identity has been kept secret – until now.
Samantha X announced she was retiring from sex work last month.
Ryan separated from his second wife earlier this year.
Ryan – the 2005 Cleo Bachelor Of The Year winner and father to two adult children – separated from his second wife of just two years earlier this year, with colleagues at Seven revealing he was reluctant to discuss details of the split or his new girlfriend.
“We had a feeling he was seeing someone but he’s been very coy about it,” one friend confirms.
For the full story and to see our exclusive photos of Ryan and Samantha X, get the new issue of Woman’s Day – on sale now!
