Rachel Stevens announces pregnancy

Popstar and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Rachel Stevens is expecting her first baby.

The former S Club 7 performer's news comes ahead of her first wedding anniversary to Alex Bourne.

"We are delighted to announce that our client Rachel Stevens and her husband Alex are expecting their first child later in the year," said Stevens's PR.

The 32-year-old singer added: "We are thrilled and so excited about becoming parents."

Earlier this week, Stevens revealed in an interview with The Mirror that she is still in the "honeymoon period" of her marriage.

"I'm really lucky though ­because I've found a good one - Alex is a brilliant hubby. He's really supportive and he's always proud of everything I do," she said.

The news is expected to delay Stevens's plans for a pop comeback. She has not released an album since 2005's Come And Get It, but recently admitted that she was in the "early stages" of recording a follow-up.