Nikki Sanderson Announces Baby's Gender as Birth Approaches
Hollyoaks actress Nikki Sanderson has publicly confirmed the gender of her unborn baby, with the arrival of the child expected imminently. Sanderson, aged 41, initially announced her pregnancy in December, and she is expecting her first child with fellow soap star Anthony Quinlan, known for his roles as Pete Barton in Emmerdale and Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks.
Festive Pregnancy Announcement Captivates Fans
The couple shared their joyful news during the festive period last year, revealing the pregnancy through a heartfelt Instagram video that quickly resonated with fans. In the clip, Nikki and Anthony are depicted decorating their Christmas tree together before opening a box to unveil a special bauble featuring their baby scan. The ornament was inscribed with the words: 'Baby Quinlan: Arriving 2026.' Alongside the video, Nikki wrote: 'Merry Christmas from the 3 of us,' confirming her due date for this spring.
Gender Reveal and Emotional Insights
As Nikki enters the final stages of her pregnancy, she recently sat down with Anthony to disclose whether they will be welcoming a boy or a girl. 'Anthony and I always said that we didn't mind what we were having as long as our baby is healthy,' the Maxine Minniver actress stated. 'There was no, "I'd love this or that" – we were just over the moon.' Nikki added in their interview with Closer magazine: 'But subconsciously, I always felt like I was going to be a boy mum and my family said the same. Whenever I thought about motherhood, I just kept envisioning a baby boy in my arms. Anthony's thrilled because he's going to have a mini Manchester United sidekick!'
Challenges on the Path to Parenthood
Earlier in January, Nikki spoke candidly about the journey she and Anthony have undergone while trying to conceive. She admitted that after repeated disappointments, the couple had begun preparing for IVF treatment before conceiving naturally. 'Because we'd had a few times where it wasn't the result we wanted, it was like, "Is this for real?"' she explained to OK! Magazine. 'Even when we found out, it took a while for it to sink in.' The actress described the emotional toll, noting it was one of the most challenging periods of her life. 'We've had a lot of ups and downs in our journey to becoming parents, and it's been really hard on us,' Nikki shared. 'You try to stay positive, but there are moments where it feels overwhelming.'
Anthony, who has starred in both Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, acknowledged that he had nearly lost hope of conceiving without medical intervention. 'We were kind of resigned to the fact that we may need assistance via IVF,' he said. 'We wanted this so much and we were just hoping, hoping, hoping.'
Relationship Background and Future Plans
Nikki and Anthony first began their relationship in 2022, going public with their romance in April of that year. Anthony previously revealed that their connection started when he messaged Nikki on social media. As the couple anticipates the birth of their baby, they continue to share their experiences with fans, highlighting both the joys and struggles of their path to parenthood.
