Co-stars Rafe Spall and Esther Smith have joyfully announced that they are expecting a child nearly two years after their romantic relationship began.
Rafe, 41, and Esther, 38, have played a married couple in the hit Apple TV+ drama Trying since 2020, and it is now returning for a fourth season.
The on-screen couple was initially speculated to be dating in November 2022, after Rafe revealed his break from his 12-year marriage to Hollywood star Elize Du Toit, with whom he has three children.
He and Esther are now expecting their first child together, as the couple excitedly revealed on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show today.
After Lorraine announced that they had ‘wonderful news,’ Esther responded with a broad smile on her face, stating, ‘I have got a small bump,’ while touching her stomach.
It was suggested that the pregnancy may be incorporated into the plot of their TV series, which follows their characters Nikki (Esther) and Jason (Rafe) as they attempt to have a family.
All the pair could say in response was that they ‘hoped there was another series’ but they didn’t know yet.
‘We’ll have a baby, and then we’ll carry on, perhaps, with that [‘Trying’],’ Esther said.
Rafe added: ‘We’re very excited.’
Lorraine shared her congratulations with the happy couple, saying that it was ‘so fantastic’.
‘So delighted for you, it’s joyful, the whole thing is just wonderful.’
The Hot Fuzz star, son of British actor Timothy Spall, and the Cuckoo actress have rarely spoken about their relationship in the press or in public.
In November 2022, they were seen walking hand in hand.
In a recent interview about the forthcoming Trying season, Rafe addressed how Nikki and Jason resemble their real-life interaction.
‘In a long-term relationship when everything else has fallen away, if you still have a laugh together, then you’re going to be alright,’ Rafe told OK! Magazine.
‘In real-life Esther and I have a laugh together and share a similar sense of humour.’
‘I love that side of our characters and it’s so easy to play that with Rafe though because he’s so funny,” Esther added.
Rafe and his family are celebrating not only their pregnancy, but also other good news this week.
At the Bafta Television Awards 2024, Timothy, 67, won his first Bafta for main actor for his performance in The Sixth Commandment.
‘I’ve always wanted one of these. I’m just so pleased to be amongst you lot,’ Timothy said during his acceptance speech.
He also spoke about the ‘difference’ The Sixth Commandment has made. The series chronicled the real life murders of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin in Maids Moreton by former churchwarden Ben Field (Timothy).
‘Sometimes you get the chance to play people that have had a terrible thing happen to then and all they wanted was love, and it’s a beautiful thing to be able to tell a story about that. It’s about crimes but it’s also about love,’ Timothy said.
‘And when it makes a difference and we can all share in the human condition, some of it horrible and some of it beautiful and even though acting is a silly stupid thing, its lovely.’
Trying returns for a fourth season on Apple TV+ on May 22. Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
Source My Celebrity Life.
