Shayne Ward and his girlfriend Sophie Austin have welcomed a baby girl.
The Coronation Street star and Tina and Bobby actress Sophie revealed in a sweet Twitter post that they were now proud parents to daughter Willow.
The 32-year-old hunk posted a note from Sophie on Saturday afternoon, reading: ‘Proud to share our incredible news. Me and Sophie had a beautiful baby girl.
‘We are completely besotted and in love with the deepest of hearts. Our world. Willow May Ward.’
Shayne’s co-stars on the ITV soap have rushed to send their best wishes to him and partner Sophie after he announced the couple’s happy news.
Thank you all so much for the beautiful messages.
Mummy & baby are doing great❤️
Right..Time to do my Fatherly duties #DiaperchangeKing ???
Catherine Tyldesley – who plays Eva Price – wrote: ‘wahoooo!!!!!! Congrats guys!!!! SO thrilled for you!!! Lots of love xxxxx’.
Whilst Sally Ann Matthews (Jenny Bradley) added: ‘This made me cry! So, so happy for you both. Welcome to the world Willow, can’t wait to have a cuddle! x’.
Sair Khan, who stars as Alya Nazir in the ITV soap, offered the couple her well wishes, writing: ‘CONGRATULATIONS!!! Over the moon for you!’.
And Richard Hawley (Johnny Connor) added: ‘amazing!! Congratulations! So happy for you all! Welcome Willow! Lots and lots of love! X’
The former X Factor winner, who emerged victorious on series two of the singing competition, has seen his relationship with Sophie move at a rapid pace.
Sophie and Shayne went public when they started dating in March, several months after her split from husband Graeme Rooney.
A photo posted by Sophie Austin (@sophieaustin84) on
The brunette and fellow actor Graeme wed in July 2015, but had called it quits by the end of the year.
Sophie revealed in a statement at the time: ‘Very sadly, my husband and I separated a little while ago.
‘The breakdown of any long-term relationship is always difficult and this is no exception.’
Sophie and That’s My Goal hitmaker Shayne were pictured together for the first time on a night out in June, going hand-in-hand as they attended Shayne’s Corrie co-star Paula Lane’s leaving party.
Shayne’s representative had confirmed their blossoming relationship with an official statement a few weeks earlier.
‘Yes, the friendship between the pair has progressed after Sophie split with her partner, however it’s all still early days to comment further’, his representative said.
The singer-turned-actor shocked his fans when he took to Twitter earlier this year to share the couple’s good news that they were expecting a child, saying that he was ‘overjoyed’.
In the same, mirrored post, Sophie wrote: ‘After much speculation I’m overjoyed to announce that @ShayneTWard and I are expecting our first child (sic).’
The lovebirds – who are alleged to have met through mutual friends – were reported to be keeping their relationship ‘low key’.
A source told The Mirror: ‘It was only after her marriage was definitely over they became anything more than just friends.’
‘They went on a couple of dates after catching up through mutual friends. They’ve kept it low key so far.’
