EastEnders actor Sid Owen has opened up about experiencing a miscarriage with his fiancée Victoria Shores.
Sid, 49, and his 42-year-old wife-to-be had been excited to be expecting a child together – and were left devastated when they lost the baby at nine weeks earlier this year.
Sid, who has played Ricky Butcher on EastEnders on and off since 1988, said his mental health has suffered following the tragic news – and he had also struggled to stay strong for Victoria.
The couple are expecting a baby again and appeared on Monday's Loose Women to chat to Ruth Langsford and co about their experience.
Speaking to the panel, Sid said: "It was really difficult because when it happened it was during Covid so when we went to the hospital, I weren't allowed in so I was constantly on the phone checking.
"I sort of knew what had happened but I didn't want to believe it, and then afterwards we just laid down and I was holding Vic for hours and she was crying and sort of almost blamed it on herself... you just can't explain it," he added.
When Ruth asked if he felt like he wanted to cry at the time, Sid continued: "Oh yeah, you just wanna be strong for your partner and obviously as a man, it's nothing physical to yourself. I can't imagine what it's like internally for a woman.
"For me, it was the first time I'd ever got anyone pregnant so it was all that excitement, like literally believing that I could. For years all my brothers kept telling me I was a jaffer!" he told the panel.
Speaking about why she wants to raise awareness, Victoria explained: "I think for me, it's definitely about the support after, you just feel very alone.
"Actually I found it difficult to concentrate at all on anything and just in a state of shock really. It would be nice for someone to do a follow up and see if you're okay."
Both Victoria and Sid said it would have been nice to have been offered some counselling.
"I felt awful because it was Sid's first experience as well which has had a knock on effect on this pregnancy," Victoria added
"We're so lucky that we fell pregnant so quickly again, but it's definitely affected this pregnancy."
"Yeah, you're just walking on egg shells, you just worry because it's such a precious thing" Sid then said.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
