Abi Titmuss is pregnant.

Abi Titmuss

Abi Titmuss

The 41-year-old model-turned-actress is "so excited" to be expecting her first child with fiancé Ari Welkom and admitted she has found it hard to keep the news secret until getting the all-clear from doctors.

She said: "I'm so excited about becoming a mum for the first time and I'm thrilled to be announcing it in Hello! I'd been bursting to share the news sooner but we hadn't had the all-clear from the doctor so I had to hold back. I found out I was expecting in the second week of January and it has been very hard keeping it a secret until now. There's so much going on in our lives - we're getting married in May!"

The 'Days of our Lives' actress - who previously dated disgraced TV presenter John Leslie - discovered last year she was suffering from fibroids which were hindering her chances of conceiving, but after having them removed last November, she fell pregnant soon afterwards.

And the blonde beauty realised she was expecting when she had an "overwhelming desire" to eat mango.

She told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "My first symptom was an overwhelming desire to eat a mango. As I devoured the whole fruit in my kitchen, it struck me I could be pregnant.

"I took a test the next morning and when it came out positive, my heart leapt with excitement."

Abi and Ari began dating around three years ago when she moved to Los Angeles, and she knew very quickly he was "The One" and she wanted to have children with him.

She said: "What I felt for Ari I'd never felt for anyone before.

"I realised this is what people mean when they say they've found The One.

"I suddenly found myself wanting to have a baby with him too, which was also a first. When you meet the right person, those feelings kick in. It felt as if God was telling me to get on with it."

And after Ari popped the question last May, the couple couldn't be happier.

Abi said: "I bought my bridal gown last summer. I chose the style specifically to accommodate my bump if I fell pregnant. It's absolutely beautiful.

"Being here in LA, meeting Ari, and getting pregnant has totally changed my life. I've always believed that when you meet the right guy, anything is possible."