Pregnant Nikki Sanderson proudly showcased her blossoming baby bump as she attended a Mum and Me app event in Cheshire on Thursday, stepping out hand-in-hand with her partner Anthony Quinlan.
The actress, 41, who is expecting her first child, cut a radiant figure in a form-fitting grey midi dress that highlighted her growing bump. She paired the look with trainers for comfort and layered a long wool coat over the outfit as she arrived at the event alongside Anthony.
Before heading inside, Nikki paused to pose for photographs, gently cradling her tummy and smiling warmly for the cameras.
The soap star was joined at the event by a host of familiar faces, including Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington and her husband Andy Parsons, as well as Steps singer Lee Latchford-Evans and his wife Kerry-Lucy.
Also in attendance were Emmerdale actresses Amy Walsh and Isobel Hodgkins, both of whom also showed off their baby bumps. Amy opted for a ribbed grey figure-hugging dress paired with a green coat, while Isobel chose a fitted brown T-shirt layered under a denim jacket.
Nikki announced her pregnancy in December, revealing that she and Anthony are expecting their first child together. More recently, she sparked excitement among fans after attempting to predict the baby’s gender in a playful Instagram video.
Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on Paddy taking home all the money
In the clip, Nikki pointed to signs she believes may offer clues, including cravings for sweet food, experiencing morning sickness, carrying low, feeling clumsy with balance, and noticing a pregnancy glow. She asked followers to share their guesses, captioning the post:
“Boy or Girl? Which do you think we are having? #boy #girl #prediction #guess #oldwivestales.”
The pregnancy announcement itself came in the form of a festive and emotional social media post. In a sweet video shared on Instagram, Nikki and Anthony were seen decorating their Christmas tree before zooming in on a bauble featuring an image of a baby scan.
The caption simply read: “Happy Christmas from the 3 of us,” accompanied by a Christmas tree emoji. The couple later added: “Baby Quinlan due 2026,” with a heart emoji, as Anthony kissed Nikki and placed a hand on her bump.
Speaking to The Mirror during a photoshoot reflecting on their journey to parenthood, former Coronation Street star Nikki — who exited her role as Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks last April — said the couple are “over the moon.”
She shared:
“We’re happy to say it’s going to be a lovely little spring baby.”
Friends and fellow celebrities were quick to flood the comments section with messages of support and congratulations.
Helen Flanagan wrote: “So so happy for you both ❤️✨.”
Samia Longchambon added: “SOOO happy for you guys! Can’t wait to meet baby.”
Hollyoaks actress Mandip Gill commented: “CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! So happy for you both ❤️.”
Anthony, who previously starred in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale and now runs an online personal training and supplements business, shared his excitement about the next chapter.
“I can’t wait till we’re a little team of three,” he said. “I want to shout it from the rooftops!”
The couple have been together since early 2022, after Anthony publicly confirmed their relationship in April of that year, admitting at the time that he was “really, really happy.”
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