Coronation Street actor Calum Lill is preparing to welcome his first child after announcing his fiancée is expecting.

The 30-year-old actor, who played Joel Deering on the ITV soap, turned to Instagram to share the delightful news.

He uploaded a Christmas-themed photograph showing bride-to-be Roberta’s bump decorated like a snowman, whilst she displayed a scan image, and the actor positioned a carrot against her tummy.

“New character dropping April ’26,” Calum captioned alongside the reveal. The pair have been an item since 2021 and became engaged last year.

“About time I made an honest woman of her,” Calum quipped at the time. The performer concealed the engagement ring in his Corrie dressing room whilst awaiting the ideal opportunity, reports the Mirror.

Calum Lill portrayed Coronation Street baddie Joel Deering, featuring in the programme’s most significant mystery storyline for years.

His character, solicitor Deering, was recently exposed as having attacked missing Lauren Bolton with a chair leg.

Nobody was more unimpressed with the plot than Calum’s own nan. Calum was seated beside her on the settee when she initially viewed the episode – and his footage of her priceless response has since become a social media sensation.

“You mean to tell me my grandson’s a killer? You battered her,” she fumed. “I can’t believe that. Honest to goodness!”

The TikTok footage has now accumulated over eight million views. After the unexpected success, Calum credits his grandmother’s sacrifices for launching his career.

Soap enthusiast Sue used her hard-earned money to fund her grandson’s drama lessons from the age of 14 and even chauffeured him back and forth to his classes.

“My grandma is so funny, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to believe it. She’s a working-class woman from Manchester; she’s so proud of me, but I knew her reaction would be priceless.

“We’d [always] watch Coronation Street together with a cup of tea, and she used to drive me to my acting classes – from the age of 14.

“So to be able to watch this with her and share that moment was really nice and so special.”

Calum’s triumph wasn’t handed to him on a plate. His mum originally funded the drama tuition but struggled financially to continue.

That’s when his nan and granddad stepped in, determined to secure the necessary funds however they could.

“We weren’t a family with money,” Calum remembers. “And the classes weren’t cheap, so I’m glad that I can now make all that expense worth it for her.”

Coronation Strete airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV and ITVX