Benidorm's newest star, Hannah Waddingham, announced during an interview with Lorraine Kelly that she is expecting a baby.
The actress, who plays Tonya Dyke in the ITV1 comedy, spoke of her joy after overcoming long-standing fertility issues to become pregnant. She revealed that doctors had told her she stood little chance of conceiving.
"I don't mind saying it, I know plenty of women go through it, but they kept telling me that my fertility was so low and that it might not happen.
"I just feel massively privileged and blessed. It just feels more important than any other job I've ever had. It's incredible how it hits you suddenly. It's taken my breath away, I'm so pleased."
Waddingham, 39, made her debut on the ITV1 show this year as part of newly arrived family, the Dykes. But she was hesitant to tell cast mates about her pregnancy. Why? Simply put, she was feeling too rough. "That leg thing where you want to screw them off and chuck them away," she told Lorraine.
But now that she's back to feeling herself, Waddingham can't wait to share her happy news with her castmates, friends and fans. "It will be a bit of a shock for some of my friends who I've not managed to call yet," she laughed as she announced the news on national TV.
As well as her role as hard-as-nails Tonya in Benidorm, Hannah is also well known to West End fans for her starring roles in Les Miserables, The Wizard of Oz and Kiss Me, Kate and has been nominated three times for the prestigious Olivier Awards.
The baby is due on July 20, but Hannah is eager to keep working for as long as possible. At the moment she is organising a West End concert to benefit the Philippine flood appeal with the help of TV presenter Gok Wan.