Hollyoaks favourite Nikki Sanderson has spoken candidly about the emotional two-year fertility battle she endured before finally falling pregnant, revealing that the long road to motherhood was filled with heartbreak, uncertainty and moments where she and her partner feared it might never happen naturally.

The actress, 41, who announced her pregnancy in December, is expecting her first child with fellow soap star Anthony Quinlan. While the news was met with an outpouring of love from fans, Nikki has now shared that behind the joyful announcement lay years of quiet struggle.

Opening up about the experience, Nikki admitted that after repeated disappointment, she and Anthony had begun preparing themselves for IVF treatment before conceiving naturally.

‘Because we’d had a few times where it wasn’t the result we wanted, it was like, “Is this for real?” she explained. ‘Even when we found out, it took a while for it to sink in.’

The actress said the journey had taken an emotional toll on both of them, describing it as one of the most challenging periods of her life.

‘We’ve had a lot of ups and downs in our journey to becoming parents, and it’s been really hard on us,’ Nikki shared. ‘You try to stay positive, but there are moments where it feels overwhelming.’

Anthony, who previously starred in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, admitted that at times he had almost lost hope that they would conceive without medical assistance.

‘We were kind of resigned to the fact that we may need assistance via IVF,’ he said. ‘We wanted this so much and we were just hoping, hoping, hoping.’

The couple finally shared their happy news over the festive period, announcing the pregnancy with a touching Instagram video that quickly captured fans’ hearts. In the clip, Nikki and Anthony are seen decorating their Christmas tree together before opening a box to reveal a special bauble featuring their baby scan. The ornament read: ‘Baby Quinlan: Arriving 2026.’

Alongside the video, Nikki wrote: ‘Merry Christmas from the 3 of us,’ confirming that she is due to give birth this spring.

While excitement is high, Nikki has admitted that the pregnancy still comes with natural worries following such a difficult journey to reach this point. Friends and fans alike have praised the actress for speaking openly about fertility struggles, something many couples experience in silence.

Nikki has been a familiar face on British television screens for more than two decades. She first rose to fame on Coronation Street in the late 1990s, playing feisty hairdresser Candice Stowe. The role made her a household name and remains a memorable character from that era of the soap.

After leaving Weatherfield, Nikki went on to appear in a number of television dramas before joining Hollyoaks in 2012 as Maxine Minniver. Over more than a decade in the role, she became one of the show’s most popular cast members.

Her portrayal of Maxine saw her at the centre of several major storylines, including a harrowing domestic abuse plot that was widely praised for its realism and sensitivity. Nikki’s performance earned critical acclaim and cemented her status as a fan favourite within the Hollyoaks community.

Last year, Nikki made the difficult decision to step away from the Channel 4 soap, bringing her 12-year stint as Maxine to an end. At the time, she said she wanted to focus on new acting opportunities and embrace life beyond the village after such a long and intense chapter.

Nikki and Anthony first got together in 2022 and went public with their romance in April of that year. Anthony previously revealed that their relationship began when he messaged Nikki on social media.

‘I slid into the DMs and that was it,’ he joked. ‘I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history.’