Just last week we announced that Coronation Street hottie Ryan Thomas was back on the market and looking for someone to date.

And it seems like the 27-year-old hasn’t wasted any time.

Now can reveal that Ryan, who plays Street lothario Jason Grimshaw, has already set his sights on a new potential girlfriend: student Sophie Derrick, the sister of his co-star Chris Fountain’s girlfriend Jessica.

Chris and Ryan have been sharing a pad and Sophie’s been spending a lot of time in Ryan’s company: they all regularly go out together.

In fact, Ryan – who has a two-year-old daughter Scarlett from his relationship with former co-star Tina O’Brien – has spent more than a month desperately trying to bag a date with the gorgeous brunette.

We like her style!

Read the full story about Ryan Thomas and see what Sophie Derrick looks like in Now magazine dated 22 August 2011 – out now!

SEE PICTURES Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas
– a love story in pictures>>

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SEE PICTURES Tina O’Brien shows off daughter Scarlett>>