Soap favourite Paula Lane has shared some heart-warming baby news, revealing she has welcomed a baby boy and introducing fans to his adorable name in a series of touching social media snaps.
The actress, 39, best known for her unforgettable role as Kylie Platt in Coronation Street, took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce the arrival of her third child with husband and fellow actor Tom Shaw. The post was met with an outpouring of love from fans and former co-stars across the soap world.
In the first image, Paula is seen cradling her newborn son, with only a pale blue knitted hat peeking out from beneath his white coat. The actress looks calm and content as she gazes down at her baby boy.
Alongside the photo, Paula revealed her son’s name, writing:
‘Welcome to the ranch Patrick. We are all completely and utterly in love. So longed for…thank you for completing us.’
She finished the message with a blue heart, a four-leaf clover and a rainbow emoji.
A series of further pictures shared in the post included proud dad Tom Shaw, who beamed at the camera while holding his tiny son in one arm, and a bottle of whisky in the other, clearly soaking up the joy of the moment.
Paula and Tom, who married in 2014, are already parents to two children: son Arthur, 11, and daughter Penny, nine. Patrick’s arrival makes them a family of five, something Paula previously described as a dream long hoped for.
The actress first announced her pregnancy back in August with a touching post that included a scan photo placed between cards for Arthur and Penny, revealing they were about to become big brother and sister. At the time, Paula wrote:
‘Some special news to share from us @sirtomshaw.
Christmas just got a bit more magical. Our baby boy due December 2025.’
Paula’s happy news prompted messages of congratulations from across the soap industry. Emmerdale star Lisa Riley wrote: ‘Sending the hugest amount of love to you Tom and the children from Me and Al…..Patrick will be loved and loved some more CONGRATULATIONS.’ Laura Norton added: ‘Amazing congrats beautiful.’
Meanwhile, Coronation Street’s Vicky Myers commented: ‘Congratulations xx,’ while former co-star Natalie Gumede shared: ‘Congratulations Paula, lots of love xx.’
Paula has long been a familiar face on British television. She rose to fame playing Kylie Platt on Coronation Street from 2010 to 2016, becoming one of the soap’s most talked-about characters. Kylie’s dramatic storyline and turbulent relationship with David Platt made her a fan favourite, before her time on the cobbles came to a tragic end when the character was brutally stabbed outside the kebab shop by Clayton Hibbs.
Kylie died in David’s arms in one of the soap’s most heartbreaking scenes, cementing Paula’s place in Corriehistory. Following her exit, Paula went on to appear in Call the Midwife and starred as Lauren in the UK tour of Kinky Boots, showcasing her versatility on stage and screen.
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More recently, Paula joined rival ITV soap Emmerdale, where she played Ella Forster from 2023 until her departure last year. Introduced as a no-nonsense receptionist, Ella quickly became embedded in village life, forming friendships with Mandy Dingle and embarking on a complicated romance with Dr Liam Cavanagh.
Her storyline took a dark turn when it was revealed Ella had accidentally killed a friend during childhood, a secret that continued to haunt her. Later plots saw her pregnant with Liam’s baby, only to suffer a devastating loss as Liam chose to build a future with Chas Dingle. Paula bowed out of the soap in December 2024 following an emotional run.
Now, with baby Patrick in her arms, Paula appears to be embracing a new chapter away from the drama of soapland. Fans have praised the actress for sharing such a tender glimpse into her family life, and for choosing a name that already seems to suit the newest addition perfectly.
As messages continue to pour in, it’s clear that Patrick has arrived into a family, and a fanbase, already completely in love.
