Coronation Street STAR MIKEY NORTH AND HIS WIFE RACHAEL REVEAL THEY’RE HAVING A BABY GIRL
‘CORONATION STREET’ STAR MIKEY NORTH AND HIS WIFE RACHAEL TELL ok!’s KATIE LANGFORD-FOSTER THEY’RE EXPECTING A BABY GIRL
The family man who greets OK! at our exclusive shoot is a far cry from the dangerous character Mikey North portrays on screen. His Coronation Street alter ego Gary Windass has, in recent months, become one of the soap’s most notorious killers. But today he couldn’t be further from Weatherfield’s cobbles when we meet Mikey and his wife Rachael in the Bolton sunshine to celebrate some happy news (Rachael’s bump being a big clue!).
Just like his dad, the couple’s two-yearold son Archie is a natural in front of the camera, crying out ‘cheese’ as he shows off his best grin! The lively toddler is also a big fan of dinosaurs so we’re soon bonding over T-rexes, before enjoying a game of catch.
Mikey and Rachael’s wedding day was featured exclusively in OK! in 2016, and they welcomed their son nine months later. As we sit down with them today, they exclusively reveal that they’re expecting their first daughter in August. Rachael, 34, tells us: ‘I knew we were having a girl – I’ve been craving everything sweet this time.’
Although they can’t wait to meet baby number two, it’s all come at a very busy time for Mikey, 32. With Gary responsible for two fatalities on the Street, his storylines are set to get even darker. ‘I’ve been that busy at work, I’ve not seen as much of this pregnancy as I did the last,’ says Mikey, adding: ‘Which is probably not a bad thing for Rach!’
With less than a month to go until they’re a family of four, the duo tell us why they’ve thrown their birthing plan out of the window and what they hope will be easier second time around…
Congratulations to you both! How are you feeling about welcoming your second child?
Rachael: Excited!
Mikey: It’s going to be double trouble. I don’t think you’re ever prepared for your first, but we’ve learnt a lot from Archie. Bring on this next one!
Was it planned?
Mikey: Oh, yes. Get it out the way, close together! I wanted them even closer in age. I said let’s do it straight away.
Rachael: Yes, but that was literally the day after I gave birth to Archie. I was like: ‘I need some time.’
Tell us about the moment you found out you were pregnant...
Rachael: I knew instantly.
Mikey: When she said that, I was like, no chance! I didn’t think it’d happen so quickly. Rachael: Then we went for a run together and I had to stop. I felt weird. I was like: ‘I definitely am!’ So the test just confirmed it. [To Mikey] You didn’t have the same reaction as last time, did you?
Mikey: The first time, I think my words were: ‘F***, f***, f***’ [laughs]. It wasn’t as dramatic this time.
Does Archie understand he’s going to be a big brother?
Mikey: Yes, he gets it! He told our parents for us. Rachael: His talking was just coming on at the time and he said: ’Baby, Mummy, tummy!’ We’ve got a few books about little boys who get baby sisters, so that helps.
Mikey: I hated becoming a big brother myself. I used to demand one-on-one time with my mum. But Archie seems excited so I’m sure he’ll be a great big brother.
How did you feel when you found out you were having a girl?
Rachael: I already knew it was a girl because of the cravings. With Archie it was all savoury but this time it’s ice cream and milkshakes.
Mikey: We had to find out – we’re too impatient! I’m not bothered what we have, as long as they sleep this time. For all his good qualities, sleeping has not been one of Archie’s strong points!
How is Archie sleeping now?
Mikey: It’s getting better. We finally got it nailed when he turned two, then we went away for three nights at Christmas and that ruined it.
Rachael: Then we moved house and that didn’t help either. But he’s preparing me for the sleepless nights again.
How has your pregnancy been, Rachael? The first three months were horrendous with morning sickness. Well, sickness throughout the whole day. But, touch wood, since then everything has been fine. I didn’t have any sickness with Archie, so I knew this baby was going to be a different gender.
You had a dramatic labour with Archie. [Rachael lost 1.5 litres of blood when a vein was accidentally severed during an episiotomy.] How are you feeling about the second time around?
Rachael: A little bit apprehensive, to be honest. But I feel more prepared because I know what contractions feel like and how bad it can be. I’m not as naïve this time, I guess. What will be will be.
Have you got a birthing plan? Mikey: Absolutely no chance after last time!
Rachael: Just get her out!
Mikey: I remember Rach insisting: ‘I’m not having any pain relief,’ and then about six hours in, she’s like: ‘Give me everything!’
As a former fitness instructor, what’s your approach to exercising during pregnancy, Rachael? When I was pregnant with Archie I did aqua aerobics, pregnancy yoga and I still ran a little bit. But I’ve been focused on looking after Archie as Mikey has been so busy at work. Fitness has taken a back seat for now.
Have you decided on a name?
Mikey: We’ve just moved house and put the name on the wallpaper that Rachael has chosen. Archie wouldn’t let us call her anything else anyway, so he partly chose the name, but we’re keeping it a secret.
Do you think you’ll have any more children? Both: Absolutely not!
Mikey: I would be highly surprised if we had any more. Two is a great number.
How did you feel when Harry and Meghan chose the name Archie for their son?
Rachael: They’ve got great taste!
Mikey: When Archie was a little bit younger, whenever Prince Harry came on the TV, he always said: ’There’s Daddy!’
What’s been the biggest challenge of parenthood? Mikey: The not sleeping. And from the second they’re born there’s never any respite, especially for Rach. She’s a great mum. Obviously I’m at work a lot of the time, so Rach bares the brunt, but she has done a great job.
Rachael: The highlights outweigh the hard bits.
Has it changed your relationship?
Rachael: [Laughs] We argue all the time! We disagree on everything.
Mikey: [Jokingly] You’ve caught us on a good day, usually we arrive separately! No, it is hard with the sleepless nights and there’s suddenly three people to think about. But Archie’s a superstar and well worth all the hard work!
Rachael: I think it brings you closer as well.
‘When Archie WAS younger, he’d see prince harry on TV And say: “There’s daddy”’
What will you do differently with baby number two?
Mikey: She’s not coming in our bed!
Rachael: And she’ll have day naps in her bed. We still have to drive Archie around to get him to sleep, which is ridiculous. But apart from that, he’s turned out alright [laughs].
You’re long-listed for Best Actor, Best Bad Boy and Shock Twist at the Inside Soap
Awards. How does it feel to be recognised? Mikey: I didn’t know that until you told me, but that’s great! I’ve put a shift in at Corrie for the past six months, so it’s great to hear. It’s nice to be nominated in so many categories. The last two years have been brilliant.
Rachael: He’s worked so hard so it’s lovely for him to get recognition.
Some of your recent scenes with Tina O’brien, who plays Sarah Platt, have been very aggressive. Is it difficult to get into that space? Mikey: Tina’s really turned my time around at Corrie. Things were going a bit sideways for me, but when our characters got put together, I started enjoying it more than ever. I feel like I’m stretching myself as an actor again. This year’s been the highlight of my time there. But when we had to do break-up scenes and I threw her around the room a little bit, it wasn’t easy. The tears were real. I give her a lot of credit too. Rachael: [To Mikey] You were quite traumatised, weren’t you? Are there downsides to playing a bad boy? Oh, I love it! When I first started, people would shout at me in the street but that died down. Now it’s back again! I was asked to introduce a band on stage at a gig in Manchester recently, and I got booed [laughs]! You almost take it a bit to heart. But wait until you see what happens to Gary in the next six months! I want to punch myself, never mind how everyone else feels.
Are you planning on sticking around on the cobbles for the foreseeable future?
I hope so! I’ve never enjoyed it so much there. I’m just happy with this storyline. Gary’s committing crimes, so who knows where it could go? I’m up for anything! He’s learned from the best – Pat Phelan [Connor Mcintyre]!
Does Archie realise that you’re on TV yet?
Yeah! If you say to Archie: ‘Do Gary from Corrie,’
he gets angry and starts hitting things! I took him to the set the other day, and we saw Gary’s van parked outside the yard. I said: ‘Be Gary!’ He goes up to the van and starts hitting it because that’s what he saw Gary do. He’s an actor in the making! Rachael: He’s only seen clips but he understands that Daddy goes to work and he’s Gary!
‘I feel like I’m stretching myself as an actor again’