Nikki Sanderson has given birth to her first child.
Anthony Quinlan and Nikki Sanderson's son has been born
The 42-year-old soap star and her partner Anthony Quinlan announced in December they were expecting a baby together and while the former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actress had been due to give birth on Saturday (25.04.26), the couple took to Instagram on her due date to reveal their son had already arrived.
Sharing a black and white photo featuring her tot's head of dark hair but with his face not in the shot, they wrote in a joint post: "Happy due date 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.(sic)"
The couple have yet to share any further details about the new arrival, including his name, but just days before making the announcement, Anthony, 41, revealed they were still considering options.
He told Emmerdale Insider on behalf of Which Bingo: "I do love traditional names - there’s something about them. Though there are probably seven or eight kids with the same traditional name in every school now, which makes it tricky.
"Interestingly, girl names came a lot more easily than boy names for us - they came much more naturally. But we’ve got a few shortlisted, and we’re going to wait until he’s here to see which one fits. It’s very exciting."
The actor - who played Pete Barton in ITV's Emmerdale from 2013 until 2020 - was unprepared for how much he would love his son before he was even born.
Anthony recalled: "When we found out the sex, I felt a real connection that made everything feel more real. I could feel the kicks and movements, watch the bump growing all the time. It’s just magical.
"I was longing for more of that connection, and then I finally got it. I can’t tell you how much you can love something before it’s even here.
"I’m sure it’s going to be even harder to describe once he arrives. I don’t think, unless it’s actually your own child, you can ever understand it."
Anthony hopes that he and his boy will share similar characteristics.
The entertainer explained: "I’m a complete mummy’s boy myself - I’m 41 now and my mum is my queen. I really want that for Nick, too. I’m sure he’s going to be a mummy’s boy, and I can’t wait.
"And at some point, I’ll have someone to share the trials and tribulations of watching Man United with."
Tagged in Nikki Sanderson