Kate Ferdinand has announced she is pregnant with husband Rio Ferdinand, after a devastating miscarriage last year.
The 31-year-old announced the joyous news on Instagram yesterday, writing: “We’ve been praying for you.”
It will be Kate’s second child with her Manchester United legend husband Rio – the couple already share two-year-old son Cree Ferdinand.
Kate is also step-mother to Rio’s children Tate, 13, Lorenz, 15, and Tia, 11, whom he shared with his late wife, Rebecca Elison.
Kate and Rio adorably announced the news to their children over the festive season in their Christmas Eve boxes, she said.
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Last July, the former TOWIE star shared the heartbreaking news that she had suffered a miscarriage.
She wrote at the time: “The last time I was in this hospital I was having Cree, but this time it was because our baby had no heartbeat in our 12 week scan and I had to have surgery.
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Kate and Rio Ferdinand. Credit: Instagram, @xkateferdinand
“We were so excited & planning a space for our new baby in our family, we just couldn’t wait to share our news with you all, but unfortunately sometimes life just doesn’t go as we plan.
“So much to say, but somehow I can’t find the words. Absolutely devastated & heartbroken …but couldn’t be more grateful for the hugs I got from my big(er) babies coming through the door when we arrived home.”
Kate has given a more in-depth update about her pregnancy in a mini podcast episode, in which she spoke candidly about the anxiety and worry she has felt following last year’s tragic baby loss.
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She said: “It’s a bit of a worry after what happened last summer with the miscarriage…
Kate also said: “In my last pregnancy when I had a miscarriage, I moaned constantly. I had a bad back, I had all these things going wrong.
“And then when obviously the miscarriage happened, I felt terrible for moaning, and thinking ‘Oh I now feel really ungrateful that I moaned the whole time’.”
She said that her main symptom so far is hunger and said she ‘could not stop eating’ in her first trimester.
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After last year’s heartbreak, the announcement that she and Rio are now pregnant with their second baby has been met with joy by their fellow celebrities and Kate’s 1.4m Instagram followers.
Thousands of comments have flooded her post, which is a black-and-white video of her holding a growing baby bump.
Holly Willoughby posted: “Aww congratulations to you both… that’s lovely news.”
Former Love Island star Montana Brown commented: “Stop this is amazing! Congratulations.”
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Michelle Keegan wrote: “Congratulations darling.”
Kate later posted a further update, writing: “Good morning, Bump pictures incoming. Thank you so much for all of your lovely messages, we are all just so excited!
“So happy we’ve shared this with you, I’ve found it hard keeping this one quiet. So much to talk to you all about so I’ve recorded a short life update for you … the link is in my bio & insta stories.”
Featured image: Instagram, @xkateferdinand
TV & Showbiz
John Bishop announces latest Manchester gig arena tour dates
Danny Jones
Beloved British comedian John Bishop has announced another massive Manchester gig on his latest run of arena tour dates.
The well-known veteran of the North West and national stand-up scene at large is heading back to the region next year for his fresh batch of live stand-up shows.
Serving as the follow-up to his critically acclaimed hour from 2025, with these dates also serving as another opportunity for fans who missed out last time to see at least some of that material, John Bishop is no stranger to selling out Manchester arenas.
Returning to Co-op Live once again after his first two visits there this past autumn, Manc crowds can look forward to more of his usual scouse charm.
Confirming the new 2027 UK tour dates online this Friday, 23 January, Bishop said: “So excited to announce I’ll be heading back out on tour next year with my brand new show…. ‘Let’s Go Round Again'”
As he goes on to write, he’s set to play “some of the biggest venues across the UK and Ireland in April and May 2027”, simply adding, “Come and join me for a night to remember…”
The 59-year-old will be coming to Co-op Live on Sunday, 2 May.
His Co-op Live debut last October went down a storm, so it’s no surprise that we cousins down the Mersey were one of the first cities to be named on the new tour.
Bishop is enjoying a little bit of added renaissance at the moment, amid being at the centre of a Hollywood film starring Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper.
You can see the duo talking about the recent release down below.
Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett allowed themselves to be vulnerable when adapting John Bishop's life story 🎬 pic.twitter.com/B5DYBfDfJ8
The Everton-born comic was already 35 when he first started live stand-up, turning up at the Frog and Bucket comedy club on the edge of the Northern Quarter and choosing to go up on stage during an open mic night rather than paying the entry fee.
Already a successful salesman in the pharmaceutical industry, he chose to switch careers just before his 40th birthday and hasn’t looked back since.
It’s part of this real-life story that inspired the movie, Is Thing On? – which finally premieres here in the UK at the end of this month – and continues to make him a hugely popular touring UK comedian.
For anyone who fancies going along to see his new tour, you can sign up for early access through his mailing list or via the venue’s pre-sale for official Co-op Members.
Those windows open on Wednesday, 28 January from 10am; general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (30 Jan). You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
You can watch the trailer for the aforementioned motion picture here.
Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”
Daisy Jackson -
30th January 2023 
