Coronation Street's Richard Fleeshman becomes a dad for first time as he reveals newborn's adorable name

CRONATION Street star Richard Fleeshman has become a father for the first time.

The actor welcomed his first child with fiancée Celinda Schoenmaker, and the couple shared the happy news on social media this week.

A happy family of three leaves the hospital for the first time Credit: Instagram

Celinde and Richard are one of the West End’s most flamboyant and glamorous couples Credit: Getty

Dutch actress Celinde, who recently starred in the West End musical Guys and Dolls, revealed the couple had a daughter.

Writing on Instagram, she said: “At 8.08am on 30 October 2024 our world exploded in a technician as we welcomed our daughter into the world. Coco Beau Fleeshman, we love you beyond words.”

She then shared a montage of three Christmas stockings, one each with their names, including baby Coco.

The couple, who got engaged in 2022 after four years of dating, revealed their impending parenthood to the world for the first time back in August.

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Actress and singer Celinde shared a photo of her baby bump. with a heartfelt message: “We haven’t met you yet, but we’ve never been more in love.”

A host of their famous friends rushed to congratulate them, including Giovanna Fletcher who wrote: “Motherhood is already looking so good on you and Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore who also offered her congratulations.

Actor Richard is best known for his role as Craig Harris in the ITV soap opera, and he got his first role in 2002 when he was only 12 years old.

But far from being just a soap opera pin-up, Richard is also a talented singer and songwriter, having won the talent show, Soapstar Superstar in 2006, where he earned £200,000 for his chosen charity.

But like his fiance, he has also been walking the plank under the bright lights of the West End, having played the lead role in Ghost the Musical, after leaving the popular ITV soap.

He also starred in Legally Blonde in 2010 and the satirical musical Urinetown, directed by theater impresario Jamie Lloyd at the St James Theater in 2013.

A talented songwriter as well as singer, Richard also co-wrote a song with Sir Elton John for the BBC drama, All the Small Things, in which he played the lead role back in 2009.

He currently stars in the popular sci-fi series The Ark.

Meanwhile, new mum Celinda, 35, is one of the West End’s rising stars, having emigrated from her native Holland in her early 20s.

The actress has starred in leading roles in musicals including Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and most recently as Sarah Brown in London Bridge Theatre’s award-winning revival of Guys and Dolls.

She also had a role in the 2019 Elton John biopic, Rocketman.

So if music is the food of love, Baby Fleeshman will be well fed.