Congratulations are in order for Emmerdale star Lucy Pargeter, who has given birth to twin baby girls. The soap star, who plays Chas Dingle in the popular soap, and her partner Rudi Coleano welcomed the new arrivals last week.
Lucy, 40, and Rudi are already parents to an 11-year-old girl, Lola, and conceived the twins through IVF.
A spokeswoman for the ITV soap said in a statement: "Lucy Pargeter and Rudi Coleano are delighted to announce the birth of their twin girls who were born on Thursday, April 13.
"All are happy and healthy, and Lola is delighted to have finally become a big sister."
I'm one lucky lady with two very lucky twins #twinlife pic.twitter.com/ecKs6mRGbN
— lucy pargeter (@lucyparge) March 19, 2017
Lucy’s character Chas will temporarily leave Emmerdale while Lucy takes maternity leave, according to The Mirror. She has starred in Emmerdale for 15 years.
Lucy recently explained how her character will leave the village, explaining that Chas has been caring for Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele), her son Aaron's (Danny Miller) half-sister while he is in prison, as her mother lives in Ireland.
The soap star said: "Liv's mum has had an accident in Ireland where she lives, and Chas sees herself as Liv's acting mother because Aaron is in prison still. She decides to take Liv over to Ireland to see her mum.
"It'll be me gone for a while, but not too long, depending. I'll be back very soon. Fictionally, I'm in Ireland, having a lovely summer."
The best night with the girls last night @MamaDoreens #twinlife ... baby shower with the best of friends , cake and pressies pic.twitter.com/tQeh7F25s6
— lucy pargeter (@lucyparge) March 19, 2017
Lucy recently opened up about having IVF treatment to conceive her twins on This Morning. She admitted that she had to keep the IVF treatments a secret from her bosses, to ensure her character wouldn’t be sidelined.
"I had to keep it a secret, because if you give any indication, they'll think if it goes well, you’ll be off in nine months, and it affects storylines.
"I had to go to IVF appointments in lunch-times and after work."
Lucy and Rudy decided to involve Lola in the process, and kept her informed about their decision to have more children. She explained: "We thought it was so important for her to know everything.
An afternoon of flat pack with Lola and this is getting real @StokkeBaby #twinlife pic.twitter.com/8Xoo00YkdZ
— lucy pargeter (@lucyparge) February 19, 2017
"We didn't want anything to happen behind her back. She's come with us to scans, doctors, she knew the whole process.
"She’s been through the whole thing with us."
Lucy’s babies have arrived slightly earlier, as she predicted. Her original due date was the start of May.
She said she was delighted to be having two girls, saying: “It's easier, there will be no split car journeys on a Saturday, taking one to football and one to dance class."
