Michelle Keegan bravely spoke out about pregnancy speculation before announcing she’s expecting her first child

Yesterday (29 December), Michelle Keegan and husband Mark Wright announced that they're expecting their first child - news which broke the internet.

37-year-old Keegan shared a photo cradling her bump on a beach with Wright, 37, and captioned the post: "2025 is going to be a special one for us…" which prompted a flurry of comments from fellow stars.

James Argent, who starred on The Only Way is Essex with Wright, commented: "I love you and I’m so happy for you both, Your going to be amazing parents. I can’t wait to be a Uncle."

Helen Flanagan said: "Omg darling so happy for both of you", and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu wrote: "Congrats to both! will be a beautiful baby."

Prior to announcing the pregnancy, Keegan had spoken out about the expectation she felt when being questioned about motherhood.

In 2020, the Fool Me Once actress told Women's Health: "I get asked about children whereas Mark wouldn't for example.

"'Why haven't I had a child? When am I going to have a child?' I don't know what they want me to say. I don't know what the right or wrong answer is."

She was then asked if her family push her for answers, to which she replied: "Not any more!... People don’t mean any harm by it, but they know what the answer’s going to be."

Earlier this year, in January, she added to the Mirror: "It’s horrible. People don’t know if we’re trying. They don’t know the background of what’s happening. In this day and age, you shouldn’t be asking questions like that. I’m asked purely because I’m a woman.

"But I’m immune to it now – it’s like a reaction, and as soon as I hear it I brush it off as it’s no one else’s business.”

Keegan and Wright tied the knot in 2015 after going public with their romance at the 2013 National Television Awards, and despite being a power couple, largely keep their relationship private.

Wright told the Sun in 2018: "We say we're going to try [for a baby] every year but something comes up with work.

"So it'll be Michelle filming in South Africa and then I got the job in Los Angeles – so we think, right, we'll try next year. With kids, I used to want three or four. But now, I'm 31, we're not having kids any time before 32. I think we could have two or three. Twins would be great because you're getting two out of the way at once."

Commenting on the pregnancy announcement, one fan wrote: "Congrats to you both! I hope this will shut up all the people who have been hounding you with asking when you're having a baby!!"

Another said: "People still commenting saying how long they've waited for this... people are actually unbelievable."