Former Great British Bake Off star Ruby Bhogal has bravely shared the devastating news that she suffered a miscarriage, just months after discovering she was pregnant.
An Emotional Announcement on Social Media
The TV baker, 36, who was a finalist on the hit BBC show in 2018, broke the news in a heartfelt video posted to her Instagram on Sunday evening. A visibly emotional Ruby explained to her followers that she and her husband, BBC presenter James Stewart, had learned they were expecting their first child during a second honeymoon in Mexico last November.
The couple's joy was tragically cut short when Ruby experienced a missed miscarriage just before Christmas. "This isn't the video we were hoping to be sharing with you today," she confessed, detailing how thrilled they had been, especially as James had been "so broody for years."
Seeking Solace in Shared Grief
Ruby, who is known for her light-hearted and cake-focused content, admitted she struggled with how to return to posting normally. "I didn't know how to come back on here and just start posting recipes and content like everything was ok," she said.
She revealed she has spent the last three weeks actively seeking out a community of others who have experienced pregnancy loss, finding some comfort in shared stories. "I'm hoping this makes someone else feel less alone," she stated. "I guess I'm also hoping that it does the same for me too."
The baker spoke candidly about the difficult questions and feelings of failure that followed her loss. "Why me? What did I do wrong?... And then there's that overarching feeling of failure. Like I failed myself and I failed James," she shared, acknowledging the struggle to accept it was not her fault.
A Plea for Patience and a Message of Hope
In her post's caption, Ruby asked her followers for understanding as she navigates her grief. "If my content looks a little different in the coming weeks, please bear with me whilst I try and find my feet and find that spark again," she wrote.
She also shared resources for miscarriage support and encouraged others to add their own, emphasising how isolating the experience can be despite being common. Ruby confirmed her secret marriage to James Stewart only a few months ago, after a lavish summer wedding. Their start to married life had already faced challenges, with Ruby contracting E.coli and Covid, and spraining her ankle on their first honeymoon.
Despite her heartbreak, Ruby ended her message with resilience. "I will still continue and hold out hope that one day will be our day," she said. "It's just not today." Her followers have since flooded the post with messages of love and support.
