'BONNIE'S THE BEST PRESENT WE COULD HAVE WISHED FOR'

SOAP STARS AMY WALSH AND TOBYALEXANDER SMITH TALK PARENTHOOD, CHRISTMAS PLANS AND WEDDING DREAMS ON A FESTIVE SHOOT WITH THEIR ADORABLE DAUGHTER

- NICOLA FAHEY

They first met during the festive season while sitting next to each other in the Strictly Come Dancing audience. Now, three years on and newly engaged, Emmerdale actress Amy Walsh, 35, and her fiancé Toby-Alexander Smith, 31, who starred in EastEnders, are eagerly preparing for their first Christmas with daughter Bonnie, who turns one just two days later.

“We’re beyond excited,” says Amy, while tenderly feeding the eleven-month-old between takes on our shoot in east London. “It’s our time of year anyway – it’s when we first met and all the magic happened. It just keeps getting better.

“This will be my first Christmas ever without my family. We usually do Christmas at my sister [Girls Aloud star] Kimberley’s house – it’s like Home Alone! There are eight adults, my seven nephews and a belter of a turkey – lots of fun. This year we’re spending it with Toby’s family, which will be lovely and intimate.

“Then for Bonnie’s birthday on the 27th, we’re planning an In The Night Garden- themed tea party at my mum’s house. I’m making a themed cake and I’m trying to persuade my sister Sally to dress up as Upsy Daisy. She owes me one as I dressed up as Olaf from Frozen for her!”

Amy and Toby’s excitement is palpable, but their journey to this moment hasn’t been easy. Amy barely left the house for eight months as they navigated through the challenges of first-time parenthood. And despite feeling like a second mum to her seven nephews (her sister Sally has four boys and Kimberley has three), a combination of breastfeeding troubles, Bonnie’s milk intolerance and severe sleep deprivation has proved difficult.