EastEnders star James Bye’s wife Victoria has given birth to their fourth child.
The actor, 39, who plays Martin Fowler in the BBC soap, announced the exciting news in a sweet Instagram post shared on their family page on Wednesday.
The baby is the couple’s fourth son, with the couple already parents to boys Edward, eight, Louis, six, and Hugo, three.
Captioning their newborn’s heartwarming snaps, the couple admitted: “It’s been a long old journey to get hold of him” following their protracted fertility battle.
The post received a plethora of congratulations from his fans and showbiz friends.
Congratulations! EastEnders star James Bye’s wife Victoria has given birth to their fourth child
Here comes the boys: the baby is the couple’s fourth son, with the couple already parents to boys Edward, eight, Louis, six, and Hugo, three
The full message read, “Oh dear…. He is here…
‘After a long settling-in period, a long delivery, many ups and downs and all the drama along the way (oh don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything… ☺️) our hearts are about to burst with the arrival of our loved one baby boy…
“I just can’t believe I have him here in my arms, safe at home and with us forever. It still hasn’t sunk in… I’m absolutely still in shock and I still can’t believe he’s mine.
“It’s been a long old journey to get him and now that he’s against my chest, wailing softly and already starting to root for some booby time, I feel like I’m the happiest mama in the land.
“I let it all come to me. Let my hair sit on my head like a bird’s nest, let the wax pile up, let the hours pass as I hold him and smell him (oh that smell) because I’ve waited so long for this moment. And I enjoy every second… xx
“The boys are all in love, James is in love, so much has happened, ooh I just can’t wait to tell you… but for now – we just wanted to thank you.”
“To our friends, family and all of you lovely people… all your support, kindness and messages. Well, it meant the absolute world.
“I’m going to take a few days to cocoon out and let my sleep-muddled brain catch up, and then I’ll come back with all the details. And ALL baby spam.
‘Much love… The Byes (all SIX of us!) xxx’
Victoria had been keeping her followers updated on her pregnancy journey, often sharing snaps of her growing baby bump on the family’s Instagram page.
In March, James and Victoria announced the gender of their fourth child and hinted at their baby’s due date.
The couple took to their family’s Instagram account to share that they are expecting a baby boy in a sweet video.
Victoria revealed their happy news, rocking her blossoming baby bump before being joined by James and their three sons for the big reveal.
James and Victoria chuckled as they excitedly held up a picture frame, their sons sitting on the couch behind them as the question “boy or girl?” flashed on the screen.
They turned to the frame and showed a photo that read “Hello guys” as they excitedly announced that they are having their fourth son.
They shared a close-up of the printout and also hinted at their baby’s due date, writing, “Coming June 2023.”
In an accompanying caption, Victoria joked that it was the “worst kept secret” as she admitted they “told everyone” before going public with the news.
They wrote: ‘It’s official… The worst kept secret ever is out! It is a boy! And really… we are all 5 in the clouds…
Honestly, we told everyone – how to keep his name a secret (yes, we decided!) is beyond me… We were just SO excited.
“These little guys are my world and I do believe – ‘you get what you need’ (think I saw that on a shirt somewhere…) but it’s so true.
“I need these crazy guys. They fill my days with laughter, noise (so much noise) and endless hugs – they also drive me up the wall. But they are my team. And I know how lucky I am.’
Victoria further admitted that people had been asking her if she wanted to “try for a girl” and she said that while she would have wanted a daughter sooner, she loves having her boys.
Bumping along: Victoria kept her followers updated on her pregnancy journey and often shared snaps of her growing baby bump on the family’s Instagram page
It is a boy! In March, James and Victoria announced the gender of their fourth child and hinted at their baby’s due date
Exciting! Victoria revealed their happy news and rocked her blossoming baby bump before being joined by James and their three sons for the big reveal
Teasing: They shared a close-up of the print, also hinting at their baby’s due date, writing: ‘Coming June 2023’
Gushing: In an accompanying caption, Victoria joked that it was the “worst kept secret” as she admitted they “already told everyone” before sharing the news publicly
The mother-to-be also spoke about how “old stereotypes” no longer apply as she praised her sons for their “amazing” personalities.
Their exciting news comes after James and Victoria shared that they were pregnant with their fourth child in January.
The couple admitted they were made aware of the pregnancy while James was engaged in a rigorous workout routine for the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing.
James and Victoria, who accompanied their mail with an ultrasound of the unborn baby, had previously suffered a series of miscarriages.
Victoria struggled with endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body, including the ovaries and fallopian tube.
Captioning the post, shared on their joint Instagram account, Victoria wrote: “So… we’ve been keeping a little secret… Not only are we welcoming the new year in 2023… I can hardly believe I’m saying it . But we welcome another little one and we are over the moon.
“We never thought it would happen. We always wanted a big family, but after all my battles with endometriosis… heartbreaking miscarriages, seeing fertility doctors & 3 years of ovulation tests & disappointments – we honestly gave up.’
Congratulations! Their exciting news comes after James and Victoria shared that they were pregnant with their fourth child in January
Happy: The couple admitted they were made aware of the pregnancy while James was engaged in a rigorous workout routine for the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing
Trouble: James and Victoria, who accompanied their post with an ultrasound of the unborn baby, had previously suffered a series of miscarriages as they tried to expand their family
She added, “I remember thinking well. Enough. I collected the pram and baby stuff and gave them all away. We both knew it couldn’t go on like this, the constant hope.
“And we were fine, we had accepted how lucky we had already been and so we moved on with life. And life went crazy.’
Victoria also poked fun at the Strictly Come Dancing curse by admitting the child was conceived while James was rehearsing for the show.
She wrote, “I started training for my marathon, we started planning our vow renewal abroad, James started the intense Strictly regimen…all wrapped up with a big 40th birthday bonanza (I got it a milked a little).
‘And would you believe it bl**dy… Somehow life saw all our plans – and threw us a curved ball… How we found the time, I’ll never know – ‘Strictly cursed ‘ You say?! Ha – introducing the glitterball baby!).
And suddenly our world is turned upside down… The boys are giddy (“We’ll always have someone to sit next to on a rollercoaster now!” Always the practical Louis) and yet, as I smile, still puzzled, I can I’m not helping, but worrying…
“I think after losing a baby you can never quite let go and enjoy yourself… despite the reassuring symptoms (thanks morning sickness all day) and the nodding doctors… you can’t let go of the fear.
“And so all I can do is keep ticking the days and hope…”