Better news for Broad as pregnancy announced
CRICKETER AND FIANCEE SHARE THEIR DELIGHT
FORMER Leicestershire cricket hero Stuart Broad is to become a dad.
He and fiancee, The Saturdays star Mollie King, announced the pregnancy on social media on Wednesday.
The singer, 35, shared a sweet black and white photo on Instagram of her fiance Broad, also 35, kissing her baby bump to announce the news.
It is better news for Broad than his previous appearance on these pages two weeks ago, when his Leicestershire pub burnt down.
King and Broad announced they were engaged in January 2021, having dated since 2012.
She captioned the post: “Stuart and I are so so happy to share that we’re expecting a baby later this year! We’re absolutely over the moon.”
Her bandmates were among the first to offer their congratulations, with Frankie Bridge writing “Can. Not. Wait!” and Rochelle Humes said “Best news ever”. Vanessa White said “incredible news! and Una Healy added a string of heart emojis.
Broadcaster Matthew Edmondson, with whom King presents a Radio 1 show, also shared his best wishes.
He said: “Congratulations guys. That baby has no idea how lucky it is to have you both as parents”.
English cricketer Broad started his professional career with Leicestershire’s second XI in 2004, aged just 17, and quickly progressed to the first team, making his first-class debut the following year.
He became a much-loved star for Leicestershire, but in 2007 left for his home county Nottinghamshire.
He posted the same photo on his Instagram, writing: “Mollie and I are thrilled to be expecting a baby at the end of the year! Exciting times ahead!”
Broad, who was in action for England yesterday against New Zealand, was nominated for Sports Personality Of The Year in 2020, following the achievement of taking his 500th Test wicket for England, but lost out to Formula 1 star Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The baby news comes after a difficult month for Broad, who saw his pub gutted by fire a fortnight ago.
Everything bar the external walls of The Tap & Run, in Upper Broughton, were destroyed by the blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Saturday, June 11.
In the immediate aftermath, Broad said he was in shock and the news “hurts right now”.
He and co-owner Harry Gurney, a former cricketer, have since vowed to rebuild the pub once the insurance is sorted, but it is expected to take a year.
It won Pub of the Year 2021 in Leicestershire as well as making it on to The Times list of the best places in Britain for Sunday lunch in 2022.
The blaze is thought to have started accidentally.
The Mercury is not allowed to print the Instagram picture due to copyright laws.