EASTENDERS star James Bye is set to become a dad for the fourth time.
The actor, 38, and his wife Victoria, 40, shared their happy news tonight and revealed they had been trying to expand their brood for three years.
James - who appeared on the most recent series of Strictly - and Victoria are already parents to Edward, aged eight, Louis, six, and Hugo, three.
Alongside a picture of their baby scan, the couple opened up about their struggle to get pregnant again - and expressed surprise it happened amid James' Strictly schedule.
James, who plays Martin Fowler on the soap - broke down in tears during the series while being away from his family.
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The pair - who tied the knot in 2012 - are set to renew their wedding vows next week on a beach in St Lucia.
The delighted couple told their followers tonight: “So… we’ve been keeping a little secret… We’re not just welcoming in the new year in 2023… ????
“I can hardly believe I’m saying it. But we’re welcoming another little one and we’re over the moon. ????."
They continued: “We never thought it was going to happen. We always wanted a big family but after all my endometriosis struggles… heartbreaking miscarriages, seeing fertility doctors & 3 years of ovulation testing & disappointment - we’d honestly given up.
“I remember thinking right. Enough. I gathered up the pram & baby things & gave them all away. We both knew it couldn’t go on, the constant hope."
However they said everything changed when "life got crazy".
“I started training for my marathon, we began planning our vow renewal abroad, James started the intense Strictly regimen… all wrapped up with a big 40th birthday bonanza (I did milk it just a bit ????)," Victoria said.
“And would you bloody believe it… Somehow life saw all our plans - and threw us a curve ball … ???????? (How we found the time I’ll never know ???? - ‘Strictly curse’ you say?! Ha - introducing the glitterball baby!) ????
“And suddenly our world has been turned upside own… The boys are giddy ☺️(‘We’ll always have someone to sit next to on a rollercoaster now!’ Ever the practical Louis ????) and yet as I smile, still amazed, I can’t help but worry…
“I think after losing a baby you can never fully let go and enjoy… despite the reassuring symptoms (thanks all day ‘morning’ sickness ????????♀️) and the doctors all nodding… you can’t let go of the fear."
Victoria added that her biggest worry now is the size of her boobs.
She joked: “As well as trying to put to the back of my mind that I have to fit into a wedding dress in a week! Seriously, my boobs! They’re massive! ????????”
Their fans and famous friend rushed to congratulate them on the exciting news.
