Legendary soap couple, Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan, Hollyoaks, have taken to Instagram to reveal the wonderful news that they’re expecting their first child together.
In a beautiful, festive clip posted to their pages, Nikki beloved by fans as Candice Stowe in Coronation Street and Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks, and Anthony, who also starred in Hollyoaks as Gilly Roach before his turn as Pete Barton in Emmerdale, decorate a Christmas tree together.
Anthony brings Nikki a gift box. Opening it to find another bauble, Nikki hangs it on the tree, while revealing that it’s emblazoned with a baby scan.
As they turn and face each other, Nikki reveals her baby bump and the two share a sweet kiss, before the camera zooms into the bauble, revealing ‘Baby Quinlan, due 2026’.
The comment section was utterly flooded with love for the couple, particularly from their former co-stars.
On the Hollyoaks side, Isabelle Smith, who starred alongside Nikki as Frankie Osborne posted: ‘congratulations!!! so happy for you both’, while Jessamy Stoddart, who plays Liberty Savage added: ‘Ohhhhh Niknak the tears are flowing! So unbelievably happy for you xxxx’
Denise Welch, who played Nikki’s mum, (How’s) Trish Minniver, posted: ‘Still reeling from the news. We are so thrilled for you both honestly and love you very much’, while Daisy Wood-Davis (Kim Butterfield) said: ‘Awwwww so happy for you guys!!!!!! Congratulations xxxxx’ and Rory Douglas-Speed (Joel Dexter) emoted: ‘OMFG IM CRYING. Im not even jokingg’
Mandip Gill (Phoebe McQueen) said: ‘CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! so happy for you both’ while Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen) added: ‘Gorgeous news’.
From Corrie, Samia Longchambon (Maria Connor) said: ‘SOOO happy for you guys! Cant wait to meet baby’, while Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster) added: ‘So so happy for you both’. Jacob Roberts (Kit Green) posted: ‘Congratulations to you both’while Emmerdale’s Charley Webb (Debbie Dingle) stated simply: ‘SOB’
Speaking to the Mirror, Nikki enthused that the they are ‘over the moon’ at their gorgeous news, saying: ‘We’re happy to say it’s going to be a lovely little spring baby,’ with Anthony adding: ‘I can’t wait till we’re a little team of three. I want to shout it from the rooftops!’
Anthony and Nikki are said to have been together since January 2022, with Anthony confirming their romance in March of that year, saying he was ‘really, really happy’.
‘I’ve always fancied her. She’s mega hot, right?’, he said at the time. ‘We’ve known each other for years. There were rumours we met at the gym, which we had a bit of a laugh about. I slid into the DMs and that was it. I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history.’
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They’ve kept low-key when it comes to sharing details of their relationship with Nikki previously saying: ‘You know what, we are very happy and we are quite private so I won’t talk too much about it, but we are very happy. He’s such a wonderful guy and I’m very lucky.’
