Blue star Simon Webbe is a new dad.
The I Can star took to Instagram on Tuesday (April 6) to confirm the happy news, telling fans the couple has been “blessed” by the new arrival.
Admitting his wife Ayshen is “in recovery” while the star himself is “rushed off his feet,” Simon wrote alongside a pregnancy snap of the pair: “We want to be honest and let you know we’re in our perfect bubble – our pregnancy reveal was with @hellomag and you will finally get to meet our bundle of joy through them too!
“We can’t wait to introduce you to the most perfect baby. We’re so in love. Thank you so much for all your support – it means the world.”
The new addition to the couple’s family comes after two trying years for Webbe and his wife, who suffered miscarriages in early 2019 and 2020.
Although the first child for Ayshen, Simon also has 24-year-old daughter from a previous relationship with Nicola Jones.
Simon’s Blue bandmate Antony Costa was among the first to congratulate the new parents, writing: “Congratulations to you both… can’t wait to meet your new arrival. I think I’ll be the better uncle out of the lads.”
Meanwhile, Blue have admitted they can’t wait to return to the stage to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary later this year.
While Simon, Antony, Duncan James and Lee Ryan were forced to put plans for live shows put on hold due to the pandemic, that hasn’t stopped them from mapping out their upcoming performances.
“Prior to the pandemic we were still doing the odd gig here and there so we still know all the dance moves,” said Antony. “There won’t be any back-flips involved though. You don’t want to see greying 40-year-old men trying to be 20-year-olds.
“When we did gigs in the past we said, ‘Boys, let’s not do the dad dance or Uncle K**bhead at a wedding’.”
Blue made their musical debut in 2001 with the massive hit All Rise, with its album of the same name topping the UK charts and going 4x platinum. Two more No. 1 albums followed – One Love and Guilt – before the group went on hiatus in 2005.
They later returned to represent the United Kingdom at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in 11th place, and went on to release two further LPs.