'Doctors' star Ali Bastian welcomes baby girl

Soap star Ali Bastian has announced the birth of her first child.

The 38-year-old star of Doctors and Hollyoaks has welcomed a baby girl to the world.

Bastian’s husband, actor David O'Mahony, announced on her Instagram account: “She’s here! We welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world last week - words cannot describe how much we love her already. We have climbed whole heartedly into the most beautiful of new parent bubbles and are enjoying some quiet family time. Mum and baby are doing brilliantly. More soon.”

Read more: Coronavirus: TV soaps to include reminders about handwashing

Bastian made her name playing Becca Dean in E4 soap Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007. Last year she starred as practice manager Becky Clarke in BBC daytime soap Doctors from February to November.

In October last year, she announced her pregnancy, revealing she had also suffered a miscarriage just 10 months previously.

She told Hello! magazine: “It took a while to process it emotionally. I had been so excited – I’d wrapped up the pregnancy test and put it in the Christmas tree for David.

“I think I was a bit naive about how fragile it all was.

“I’ve now got to the point where I feel comfortable talking about it. So many people go through this, which is why we want to be open.”

Read more: 'Game of Thrones' star Kristofer Hivju tests positive for coronavirus

Bastian competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, partnered with Brian Fortuna. They topped the leaderboard during Blackpool week – scoring 10s from all four judges – only to get knocked out in the semi-finals a few weeks later.

She went on to star with Fortuna in West End dance show Burn the Floor in 2010.