Emmerdale’s Anthony Quinlan, known for his role as Pete Barton, has shared a touching message for his partner, soap actress Nikki Sanderson, as they prepare to welcome their first child together.

Nikki, recognized for her past roles in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, announced her pregnancy with Anthony through an Instagram video on Christmas Eve. The video showed the couple decorating their Christmas tree, culminating in the reveal of a special ornament featuring their baby scan photo and the message “Baby Quinlan: Arriving 2026.”

Nikki, aged 41, is expected to give birth in the upcoming spring and has been sharing updates on her pregnancy journey with her followers. Recently, she posted a lovely photo of herself gently cradling her growing belly, wearing a white crop top and checkered trousers. Anthony playfully responded to her post, indicating his clothes were being borrowed by Nikki, especially his pajama bottoms.

Colleagues from the soap industry, including Helen Flanagan, Stephanie Waring, Jessica Fox, and Alex Fletcher, expressed their joy and admiration for Nikki’s pregnancy announcement on social media.

The couple’s journey to parenthood has been marked by challenges, as revealed by Nikki in an interview with OK! Magazine. After a two-year struggle to conceive, they had started preparations for IVF before conceiving naturally, a moment that initially felt surreal to them but now fills them with happiness.

Nikki’s soap career includes roles in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, while Anthony’s notable portrayals include Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks and Peter Barton in Emmerdale. Their relationship began in 2022, with a public declaration of their romance in April of that year.

As they anticipate the arrival of their baby, the couple is grateful for the unexpected but joyous turn of events in their journey to becoming parents.