Ex-Eastender Natalie Cassidy expecting first baby

Former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has announced she is pregnant with her first child.

The actress, best known for playing Walford's Sonia Fowler, is expecting a baby with Adam Cottrell, her boyfriend of nine months.

Cassidy, 26, told OK! magazine: "We haven't really gone public with our relationship, so I guess this will all seem a bit sudden to some people. But it was a whirlwind romance for us too, I guess!"

She added: "But we feel like we've known each other for ever."

Cassidy, who met 30-year-old transport boss Mr Cottrell at last year's Isle of Wight festival, said the baby was conceived over Christmas.

She explained that she has polycystic ovaries and feared she might never be able to conceive.

"I wanted children so much, it was a worry. I came off my contraception in November but I never thought I'd get pregnant that quickly!"

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, who lost her mother in 2002 to a heart attack and was left devastated when EastEnders co-star Wendy Richard died last year after a battle with cancer, said pregnancy has been a "very emotional" experience.

She said she wanted to have "lots of kids" with Mr Cottrell, and is hoping he will propose to her before the baby is born.

Cassidy was criticised for gaining weight following the release of her successful fitness DVD.

She said she hopes being a mother will end unkind comments about her appearance.