Coronation Street star Julia Goulding announced the joyous news that she's expecting her second child on the red carpet at The British Soap Awards on Saturday night. Congratulations have been pouring in for the star who plays popular character Shona Platt.
She posed for the cameras while lovingly placing her hands on her bump as she revealed she's expecting her second child with husband Ben Silver. The couple welcomed their son Franklin Wolf Silver in November 2019.
Speaking to OK! on the red carpet Julia, 37, said it has been 'hard' to keep her pregnancy a secret. "It's been quite hard to keep it secret and they've dug out my maternity clothes from three years ago, so it's all systems go again," she told the publication.
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She admitted that her bump with Franklin was a "lot bigger". She said: "It's generally up to the director or costume department to sort of try and conceal it a bit. Obviously, I'm not as big, I'm used to being a lot bigger when I had Franklin."
And as they watched Friday night's episode of the Trafford-based soap Corrie fans were amused as they they thought they spotted an attempt to hide the bump. Mischievous Shona emerged downstairs at the Platt household wrapped in a snuggly duvet.
And she announced cheerfully to stunned husband David that she was having a 'duvet week.' Sharing a photo of cafe worker Shona's antics on their official Facebook page Coronation Street asked: "Hands up, who else would like a duvet day spent watching Corrie?"
Velina Herrenkohl replied: "Covering the baby bump!!!! I’m happy for her… she is glowing." Bridget Marshall said: "I think she is pregnant in real life again, great actor." And Kristen Towe commented: "Yeah, very creative, I have duvet week in winter anyway."
Back in June 2019 fans previously clocked the inventive ways of hiding her blossoming bump while expecting Franklin. It was concealed behind the counter at Roy's Rolls cafe where she works, the character wore baggy shirts and she was spotted holding a cushion over her tummy.
In one episode she emerged down the stairs holding her coat in front of her. Julia, from Middleton, revealed in February 2019 that she had tied the knot with her partner of three years on stage at Manchester's Albert Hall.
Julia, who has starred in Corrie since 2016, last month attended The Baby Show with her husband at Birmingham NEC, a one-stop shop for products and advice from parenting experts on everything from sleep, weaning, breastfeeding and first aid. Taking to Instagram after The British Soap Awards she shared snaps of herself at her hotel.
"I honestly felt a million dollars in this dress by @rosiebillington it was so comfortable and beautifully made," she captioned the post.
And the compliments were flooding in. Catherine Tyldesley, who recently welcomed her second child, said: "Congratulations momma!!!" as Corrie co-star Sally Carman wrote: "You looked bloody knockout," alongside a string of flame emojis.
Julia returned to filming in February 2020 following her maternity leave after her character suffered a brain injury when she was shot by drunk gunman Derek Milligan. Shona made a comeback to the soap unable to remember her husband David or any of her life with the Platt family.
She has since rebuilt memories and adjusted to life in Weatherfield again. For a while her relationship with David appeared to be on the rocks as newcomer Daisy Midgeley had David in her sights.
But there was a romantic moment at Christmas 2020 as Gail Platt's youngest son re-enacted their wedding day for her with his children Max and Lily. Shona met and fell for David following the tragic death of his wife Kylie.
She settled down Weatherfield but provided a shock for the Platts when she revealed that she was in fact the mother of Clayton Hibbs, the thug who stabbed Kylie to death. David forgave her shocking secret but killer Clayton threatened to tear them apart again by asking his mum to help him in prison because he was being bullied by his inmates.
