‘I WANTED MARRIAGE BEFORE A BABY BUT SOMETIMES IT'S TAKEN OUT OF YOUR HANDS'

EASTENDERS ACTRESS LOUISA LYTTON ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HER PREGNANCY SO FAR HOW SUPPORTIVE HER CO-STARS HAVE BEEN AND WHY SHE AND HER FIANCÉ BEN BHANVRA ARE NO LONGER PLANNING THEIR NUPTIALS

- KIRSTY HATCHER

When Louisa Lytton arrives for our photoshoot at our studios in central London, the pregnant EastEnders actress admits she’s feeling a mixture of emotions about baring her bump to the world for the first time.

“I’m excited, but quite nervous,” Louisa tells us. “It’s a weird thing, but you almost feel like you’re not in your own body when you’re pregnant. It’s a body you’ve never known before.”

But it soon becomes clear that she has nothing to worry about, as the 32-year-old, who’s due in September, is absolutely glowing from head to toe.

Louisa and her fiancé Ben Bhanvra, 30, previously told OK! they wouldn’t put off having kids for the sake of being married first. And now, with a little one on the way, Louisa reveals that after already having to postpone their big day twice, they have cancelled it altogether to concentrate on their impending arrival.

“We’re going to have the baby and focus on that and then get married once we’re ready,” says the star, who plays Ruby Allen in the BBC One soap.

Here, Louisa, who lives in north London with Ben and their Cockapoo Riley, tells us all about her pregnancy journey so far and reveals how she told her co-stars...

Hi Louisa! How are you feeling about our bare bump shoot?

I’m nervous, but excited because it’s something I’ll forever be able to look back on. I’m really grateful to be able to do this.

Have you embraced your bump?