Emmerdale actress Michelle Hardwick has revealed she and her wife would love another baby, after welcoming their first son in 2020.
Michelle, 46, and wife Kate Brooks, 39, a producer on the soap married in 2019 at Elvis' Graceland estate in Memphis, and after IVF treatment, their son Teddy was born in October 2020.
Speaking to OK! The pair revealed their hopes of expanding their family, and Michelle, who plays vet Vanessa Woodfield in Emmerdale, said she would love to meet Teddy's biological dad one day, to thank him.
As part of the IVF journey, the couple chose the donor to be Teddy's biological dad, after reading about the characteristics of the candidates, their family life and values.
“When Teddy is 18 he can find out who his dad is and we’d massively back him,” says Michelle. “I’d love to meet him just to say, ‘Thank you so much for allowing us to be parents and giving us the most beautiful little boy.'"
Michelle carried Teddy, while Kate donated the egg, with the pair having a scare early on after Michelle had a large bleed.
The pair feared the worst when they went for a scan, but fortunately the midwife reassured them.
Speaking about the possibility of expanding their family, Michelle, who has also appeared in hospital drama The Royal, said: “We’d definitely love Teddy to have a brother or sister. And if we’re lucky enough, fantastic – for him as well, not just for us.”
The couple also spoke about the online abuse they have received over the years, including death threats which have resulted in the police being called.
Michelle said: “The root of it all is always because I’m gay, I’m a gay woman. And it’s like, ‘Lesbians shouldn’t be on this Earth, just burn in hell and die’.”
In August, Michelle shared a vile homophobic message she received from a troll, as she dared them to reveal their true identity.
The user fired a number of homophobic slurs at Michelle calling her a 'd**e' and a 'l**bo brat.'
The soap star wrote alongside the abuse 'Come on, show us who you really are... I dare you!"
Kate also weighed in on the furore as she replied to Michelle's tweet: "Hi ‘Michael’, the original Prisoner Cell Block H called from 1985 - they’d really like their insults back. Thanks a mill."
Hours later Michelle returned to social media to thank fans for their kindness.
"Overwhelmed by all your beautiful supportive messages," she wrote.
"I honestly don't take it to heart, I just like to highlight it every so often.
"Thank you to every single person who took the time to message me whether I know you personally or not. I promise I'll read them all."
