ALI BASTIAN is joined by her Hollyoaks

Ali and her husband David O’Mahony, who’s appearing in West End stage hit Mamma Mia!, will be welcoming their baby daughter around the time of their first wedding anniversary in early March

ADDITIONAL PHOTO: TONY WARD

Everything was coming up roses – pink ones – at actress Ali Bastian’s baby shower.

The former Hollyoaks star tells us: “The scent of fresh-cut roses was just heaven.” And the colour was significant as she and her husband, fellow actor David O’Mahony, are expecting a baby girl.

As they teamed up to cut the cake, Ali, who exclusively announced her pregnancy in hello! , told us: “Our baby is due close to our wedding anniversary. With the date fast approaching we have so much to celebrate. David and I really enjoyed cutting the cake together. It was as if we were getting married again.”

They celebrated with family and friends including Ali’s Hollyoaks girlfriends Carley Stenson and Sarah Jayne Dunn.

“I feel so lucky that we have such incredible friendships that have stood the test of time. We’ve been through so much together – I don’t know what I’d do without them. We’re usually a foursome with our other bestie Jodi Albert but she sadly couldn’t make it. I know how much she wanted to be with us.”

FAVOURITE FEAST The cream cake with vanilla icing and delicate sugar petals by Tabi Treats was the centrepiece of a feast with plenty of Ali’s favourite food, served in the private dining room at Prezzo in London’s Mayfair.

“There was pizza and pasta as far as eye could see as that has been my gnancy go-to,” she laughs. The former Strictly Come Dancing semialist, most recently seen on TV in C1 drama Doctors, met David –rrently appearing in the West End in amma Mia! – on a night out with a th e p reg T fina B B cu r M a

The ecstatic firsttime mum-to-be (left with her Hollyoaks best friends Carley Stenson and Sarah Jayne Dunn) says cutting the stunning cake (right) with David was “like getting married again” Th t ti fi t - e

mutual friend in 2016 and they married at London’s Old Marylebone Town Hall on 3 March last year. Baby shower guests included Ali’s mum Paula and mother-in-law Gill, as well as her sister-in-law Claire, who had helped plan the magical afternoon with event planners Crate A Party, with styling by Forever and a Day Events with Ali’s friend Saffron Rizzo. “I couldn’t believe the effort everyone had gone to when I walked in –it was so emotional,” enthuses the mum-to-be. “They had turned the room into an explosion of all my favourite colours with hundreds of rose gold and pink balloons and the most incredible flowers by Emma Soulsby. “The next time we’re all in a room together, I’ll be introducing them to our little girl. We certainly cannot wait to meet her.” A sentiment echoed by proud dad-tobe David, 37, who has told hello! : “Ali is going to be incredibly nurturing and loving. She’s going to be an absolute black-belt mother.” All the guests filled in Bonjour Baby Showers cards to guess the newborn’s weight and name, and left with handmade bags filled with popcorn, sweets, Cake Bops, vegan baby shampoo and conditioner from Childs Farm and a mini bottle of prosecco to “pop when I pop”. Ali, who celebrates her 38th birthday on 27 February, tells us: “I’m still glowing from our beautiful baby shower –well, that and the pregnancy hormones! What made the day even more special was that our baby decided to put on an absolute kick show and everyone got to feel her wriggle and say hello. We may have a performer in our midst… Uh-oh!” H

PHOTOS: BLUE PINEAPPLE PICTURES