Former Hollyoaks and Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson has given birth to her first child, a baby boy, with her partner, former Emmerdale star Anthony Quinlan. The couple shared the joyful news on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of their newborn.
The caption read: "Happy due day little man. You blessed our lives a few days earlier than expected and filled our world with so much joy. Daddy and mummy love you so much Son." They have not yet revealed the baby's name.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
The couple spoke exclusively to the Mirror in January about expecting their first child after a two-year struggle to conceive. Nikki, 41, described the moment she got a positive pregnancy test as a whirlwind of emotions. "I felt absolutely elated that we got this confirmation and that the baby was fine – the first time seeing the heartbeat on the scans was the most amazing, incredible feeling," she said.
She added: "We've had a lot of ups and downs in our journey to becoming parents and it's been really hard on us. But now, waiting for our beautiful baby to arrive, it's just incredible. Every person trying to conceive has their own journey and, sadly, some are easier than others. But being where we are now makes all the ups and downs worth it."
Facing Challenges Together
Anthony, known for his role in Emmerdale, admitted they had been prepared to seek IVF assistance. "We were kind of resigned to the fact that we may need assistance via IVF. We wanted this so much and we were just hoping, hoping, hoping," he said. Despite the strain such struggles can put on relationships, the pair remained a strong unit.
Nikki, who also played Candice Stowe in Coronation Street, said: "We've been blessed that we are a team. We knew this process wasn't going to be easy and I can totally understand why it can take a huge toll on people. It's not just the physical element, it's the mental and emotional sides to it as well. But we really had each other's backs through the highs and lows."
