Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine pregnant with third child and planning soap-inspired name

Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine has confirmed that she is pregnant with her third child with husband Chris Farr.

The star, 38, who plays Fiz Brown in the soap is six months into her pregnancy and says she and Farr - who married in 2017 and already share son Albert, eight, and daughter Hilda, four, together - are “over the moon” about expanding their family in 2023.

“It just feels really nice. We’re so over the moon. The thought of adding to our family mix and chaos was the best Christmas present! I’m really excited for 2023 – it’ll be a special one,” she told OK! magazine.

The former I’m A Celebrity campmate has decided not to find out the gender ahead of the birth, but either way already has a few ideas when it comes to names.

Her daughter’s name Hilda was inspired by Corrie character Hilda Ogden, who was played by the late Jean Alexander.

And she wouldn’t rule out using the ITV soap as inspiration again, telling the publication: “I can probably guarantee that whatever the name we choose, it will have been a character in Corrie – I don’t know how to avoid it!”

The flame-haired actress continued to work throughout her last pregnancy, and has spoken in the past about the creative lengths producers went to hide her growing baby bump.

“We started with a mug and then we went on to a handbag and last week, I’m not kidding, with a Ford Fiesta!’ she said while appearing on ITV’s Lorraine.

She explained laughing that show bosses would ask for a car to be moved further down the street with the sole purpose of covering her bump.