In an exclusive and heart-warming festive reveal, beloved soap opera actors Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan have announced they are expecting their first child together. The couple shared the joyous news that they are set to become parents in the spring of 2026.
A Festive Announcement for Fans
The parents-to-be chose the Christmas period to make their special announcement, posting a sweet video on their respective Instagram accounts. The clip first showed a decorated Christmas tree before zooming in on a bauble featuring a baby scan image. Their caption read simply: 'Happy Christmas from the 3 of us' with a Christmas tree emoji, followed by 'Baby Quinlan due 2026' and a heart.
Speaking exclusively during a photoshoot, a glowing Nikki Sanderson, 41, confirmed the couple are "over the moon". The former Coronation Street actress, who left her role as Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks in April, said: "We're happy to say it's going to be a lovely little spring baby."
From Friends to Family: The Couple's Journey
The loved-up pair, who have been dating since the start of 2022, have long been fan favourites. Anthony, a former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star who now runs an online personal training business, admitted he "can't wait till we're a little team of three." He added enthusiastically: "I want to shout it from the rooftops!"
Their romance blossomed from a solid friendship. Anthony publicly confirmed their relationship in April 2022, following Nikki's split from her ex-partner of five years, Greg Whitehurst. Anthony had previously been in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell.
Recalling how they got together, Anthony revealed in a past interview: "I slid into the DMs and that was it. I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history." He also famously quipped about his long-standing attraction to Nikki, stating: "I've always fancied her. She's mega hot, right?"
Private Happiness and Shared Passions
Despite their public profiles, the couple have predominantly kept their relationship out of the spotlight. At the Pride of Manchester awards in May 2022, Nikki said coyly: "We are very happy and we are quite private... He's such a wonderful guy and I'm very lucky."
Nikki has also credited Anthony with inspiring her fitness journey. In a November interview with Closer magazine, she shared that she now trains three times a week and is passionate about walking, aiming for 10,000 steps daily. "It's so underrated physically and mentally," she said, adding, "Of course, it helps that my partner is very fit."
The couple will grace the cover of the Notebook magazine on January 4, which features their full exclusive interview and pregnancy photos in the Sunday Mirror.
