Michelle Ackerley announces pregnancy on Morning Live after infertility struggle
The BBC presenter, also known for fronting Crimewatch and Watchdog, married Ben Ryan, a performance director at Brentford FC, last year.
Introduced by her Morning Live co-host Gethin Jones as having 'some news', Ackerley told the BBC One programme: 'I have actually, yes.
'I know I still can't quite believe it myself, really, very, very happy… it's just come out slowly but surely,' she added.
'I am four months pregnant.'
The guests smiled and clapped at the surprise news, with 40-year-old Ackerley 'thanking' them for their congratulations.
She also said that she had been 'waking up in the middle of the night at 3am', and nudging her husband Ryan, a former rugby coach, saying this is 'what we've got to get used to, no sleep, so let's have a conversation in the middle of the night'.
Jones said 'congratulations' and added that the team is 'so, so happy' for her.
Ackerley also wrote on Instagram on Tuesday that she 'can't believe it's nearly been a year since getting married', and said their next chapter in October will be begin 'albeit with nervous and cautious excitement'.
Michelle Ackerley (Ian West/PA)
She wrote: 'I wanted to share though as my journey with endometriosis and infertility is something I finally felt confident to start speaking about more openly last year – realising how many other women were going through similar experiences.
'Feeling part of a community – especially when it comes to women's health can really make a difference.
'Even at the very start of this year I was gearing up for yet another endo(metriosis) procedure and trying to come to terms with the mental and physical impact they can have. It has been quite the emotional rollercoaster.
'The news of falling pregnant really came as a massive surprise to both of us. We still can't quite believe it.'
Charity Endometriosis UK says the debilitating chronic condition causes painful or heavy periods.
It may also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems and affects around 1.5 million women in the UK.
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What has been your biggest challenge so far? Sioned – I think it was being together with no-one else to direct us in anyway. It was having the responsibility of making all the decisions ourselves – that was a huge challenge for us at the start, but we did get used to it. Fin – For me it was food and communication, I was eating over 4000 calories before I left, and then to go barely anything was hard. I knew communicating was going to be hard but not that hard. In China you couldn't understand each other, but in India, you could still speak English and they'd understand but they'd still send you in the wrong direction. We got a lot of wrong information! How has your relationship changed as a result of the show? Sioned – I think were a lot stronger and lot more comfortable relying on each other and were not so afraid to do things. What are your biggest life lessons of the journey so far? Sioned – Kindness – we relied on that so much. We've learnt that we should be like to other people. Fin – Some people had nothing but they'd still want to give, and they enjoyed giving. They didn't feel the need to give, they wanted to. Sioned – We've also come back a lot more grateful for what we have. Were very privileged. Did you surprise yourself during this experience? Sioned – I surprised myself in the fact that I didn't think I'd react in certain ways that I did to certain things, but then I guess I've never come across them before. Were both very much more capable of doing things than we thought, we don't need as much help as we thought we'd need. Who do you think is your biggest competition going into the final leg? Fin – At the start it was always Elizabeth and Letitia, then it was Tom and Caroline and right now its everyone's game, were all very close in time. We've seen everyone's capabilities. I'll be honest, at the start I didn't think Brian and Melvyn would pull off what they did! Sioned – Elizabeth and Letitia we always seemed to come across them, and no matter how well we thought we were doing, they always seemed to be in front of us! What would winning the race mean to you? Sioned – I think doing the race is a huge accomplishment, but being able to say that were the winners and having that title would be amazing. Fin – I'm so proud of us for doing it, fresh out of school and so young. We've faced so many challenges along the way, to come out on top would prove to ourselves that we can do it, and it would be a good memory as well. Sioned – I don't think we have ever been in it for the money, the money is such a small part of trying to win it. It's the experience and we've all got the experience and memories from it, and so winning would just be the cherry on the top. Would you recommend the experience/do it again? Fin – I would pay everything I have to do it again! I don't want to come back! Sioned – We've got no negatives to say about it, a once in a lifetime experience. Follow for More
