Having a baby is a huge adjustment, but I'm so in love'

The Traitors star Charlotte Chilton says she's not afraid to go it alone as she introduces us to her new baby Penelope

With her distinctive red lippy, jet-black curls and undeniable charisma, Charlotte Chilton was one of the breakout stars of The Traitors when it aired this January.

But fast-forward less than a year since her scenes were shown and the gorgeous 33-year-old has swapped round tables for changing tables, having welcomed her daughter Penelope last month.

The first-time mum - who has publicly claimed Penelope's father is singer Conor Maynard, who she has alleged is not involved with the baby - is introducing her darling daughter to the world with our exclusive shoot at her home. And we're pleased to report that Charlotte is taking motherhood in her stride, despite a tricky pregnancy and a stressful first few weeks.

"I hated being pregnant," she tells us, as she effortlessly clutches a mug of tea in one hand and little Penelope in the other. "I loved the baby inside me, but everything else was s**t. I remember thinking, 'This is vile. Women lie to women and say it's magical. There's nothing magical about this.' I was really, really negative, but I did have SPD [Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, which causes severe pelvic pain during pregnancy], gestational diabetes, I had an allergy to my hormones. I had everything, so I was constantly in and out of the hospital. I couldn't do much for myself.

I had to stop working for the last three months. And I didn't have a baby daddy there to help. It was really hard." Labour also had its challenges. "When I thought I was about 4cm dilated, the doctors told me Penelope's heart rate was dropping and they were going to have to give me an emergency C-section to get her out," recalls Charlotte. "It turns out I was nearer to 9cm. I pushed so hard, she actually flew out of me - I needed a fair few stitches afterwards!" Penelope was born at 3.53pm on 13 October, weighing 6lb 7oz. Her besotted mother chose the middle name Royella after her beloved grandad Roy.