Lauren Goodger wants to have a baby this year.

Lauren Goodger

Lauren Goodger

The former 'Only Way is Essex' star is currently single but is feeling very broody for a baby, and she admits she finds her friend Ferne McCann inspiring for the way she's coped raising her five-month-old daughter Sunday as single mother as her ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins is in jail.

Speaking to Closer magazine, Lauren said: "Mums now get used to doing things on their own. Ferne's a single mum but it's pretty much the same as having a husband who is never there. She doesn't feel sorry for herself and she doesn't need a man. The baby is so lovely and she's having the time of her life being a mum. I'd love to get pregnant this year - I'll have to see what happens in my love life first. I'm looking forward to enjoying myself, and if the fairytale ending happens, that would be amazing."

The 31-year-old star recently sparked speculation she had reunited with jailed ex-boyfriend Joey Morrison - who she split from last September - after flashing a screensaver on her phone featuring them sharing a kiss.

However, while Lauren will "always care" about Joey, she insists they are not back together.

She explained: "It's just an old photo from 2016 that I'm fond of. I'll always care for Joey."

And Lauren - who previously was in a long-term relationship with Mark Wright, who is now married to actress Michelle Keegan - has vowed not to rush into a new relationship or force a romance to happen.

She said: "I want to find a man naturally. I won't find one on a TV show or a dating app because I would be worried it's all too false. The kind of man I go for is someone like Tom Hardy - a real alpha male and bad boy. I want to be with someone with a bit of an edge, who makes me feel protected and safe, but most importantly, loved. I don't care what job they do so long as they have drive and ambition."

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