Michelle Hardwick has revealed that she is expecting a baby girl with wife Kate Brooks.
The couple, who met on the set of Emmerdale, announced the happy news on Loose Women today. They are already parents to son Teddy, who they welcomed in October 2020.
"It seems to have flown by this time," Michelle gushed as she held hands with Kate. "Quite a bit of morning sickness!" The couple went on to speak about their Memphis wedding as they eloped in the US.
"Looking at where we are, we've been married nearly three years," she said. Admitting that she was worried about initially telling their families about their plans to elope - particularly because her dad is an Elvis fan - Michelle said that they were "absolutely fine".
Michelle and Kate revealed that their donor this time round is also Teddy's biological dad, revealing that he was open to meeting the children when they're 18 and if they wish to see him. Revealing the gender, Michelle announced excitedly: "So baby number two is a little girl!"
The couple were congratulated by the panelists and later brought on son Teddy to help celebrate the happy news.
Taking to Instagram last month, Michelle shared a photo of a screen announcing: "COMING THIS WINTER... Baby Brooks #2." Underneath the TV, their son is seen putting his hands up and grinning in excitement. Michelle wrote: "We are super excited about our gorgeous news! I’m 20 weeks today and can almost rest a cup of tea on my bump #bigbrother."
Their friends and colleagues rushed to congratulate the couple, with Hollyoaks actress Anna Nightingale gushing: "Waaaaaa! Best news ever so much love to you guys x." While Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, commented: "FINALLY!!! I can tell my Dad and Brother now love to you both, you know how elated we are for you!! So much love."
It came after the couple said earlier this year that they would love to have another baby. Michelle, 46, and Kate, 39, 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.'"
*Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV
