Hollyoaks star Kirsty-Leigh Porter welcomes baby with partner Paul Barber almost two years after stillbirth loss

Kirsty-Leigh Porter
(Image credit: Getty)

Hollyoaks actress Kirsty-Leigh Porter and partner Paul Barber have welcomed surprise baby.

Hollyoaks star Kirsty-Leigh Porter has given birth to a surprise baby with partner Paul Barner - almost two years after heartbreaking stillbirth.

The actress, 31, who plays Leela Lomax, in the Channel 4 soap, broke the delightful news to fans when she shared a photograph from hospital of her partner Paul carrying their newborn in a car seat.

Kirsty-Leigh, who kept the pregnancy secret from fans, captioned the snap using emojis of a rainbow, a baby, and some prayer hands, to mark the rainbow baby birth - a term used to describe a child born to a family that has previously lost a baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth or death during infancy.

A photo posted by on

And friends and fans have send their congratulations to the couple.

One wrote, 'The BEST thing to happen this year!'  actress Nikki Sanderson said, 'So happy for you both xxxxxx' and Steph Waring added, 'So happy for you both!! Congratulations!"'

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The new mum paid tribute to her stillborn baby daughter Penny-Leigh on her due date last year as she shared a snap with the heartbreaking words, 'Missing you comes in waves, Tonight I'm drowning. Today is your due date, 5th of March 2019. I never would have imagined feeling how I feel about it today. For the last few weeks I have been dreading this day.

She continued, 'What a huge contrast to the months of excitement I felt from the moment we were told you would be due here today. After that very first scan, my life changed, and it became all about you, after the dating scan, everything was all leading up to this date. The date I could NOT wait for, is finally here and it’s nothing how I had thought it would be.

'I can’t help imagining, would you have been here by now?'

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She most recently paid tribute to her late baby daughter Penny-Leigh with a special Wave of Light ceremony in which she described "losing" her stillborn baby all over again.

It is not yet known whether the couple have had a boy or girl this time and the name has not yet been revealed but we're sure fans will find out on Instagram in the coming weeks.

Sands stillbirth and neonatal death charity supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. If you need help, call 0808 164 3332, email helpline@sands.org.uk for help.

Selina Maycock
Senior Family Writer

Selina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism, and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, and Woman's Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz - and the Scunthorpe Telegraph. When she's not covering family news, you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories (including award-winning scarecrows!)