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Before we caught up with Sid Owen and his new fiancée, Victoria Shores, we weren’t sure what to expect. After all, the former party boy isn’t one to talk about his love life and has spent much of the last decade a single man.

What we didn’t anticipate was that we’d be wiping away tears as the ex-EastEnders star talks about his romantic proposal and deep love for the woman he first met more than 20 years ago – and reveals that a baby is on the way!

It’s clear they’re both very excited. Sid, 49, whose autobiography Rags To Ricky is out now, reveals they are expecting the baby early next year.

He proposed at a spa last month, following a whirlwind 12 months together. And although it’s been just weeks since they got engaged, plans for their big day are already well underway.

“I’m hoping to book Bruce Springsteen,” Sid jokes.

The pair will get hitched next summer, surrounded by friends and family including Sid’s former EastEnders co-stars Charlie Brooks and Dean Gaffney. Adele’s ex-husband Simon Konecki will

be his best man and Patsy Palmer is set to take to the decks. Even

Al Pacino has bagged an invite!

Sid is also excited about his new blended family. Victoria is mum to two children from a previous marriage, who have welcomed Sid with open arms.

Here, after our gorgeous shoot, the husband-and-wife-to-be reveal all about the cute proposal, how they initially met at Ronnie Wood’s house, and the roles their loved ones will have at their wedding…

Congrats on your pregnancy! How are you both feeling?

Sid: We are feeling great – it’s looking good.

Victoria: We have just gone four and a half months. We are excited to be halfway.

Sid: I never ever dreamt I would have kids. The older you get the more distant that idea seems. You give up hope sometimes, so it’s a miracle it’s happened.

Do you know the sex?

Sid: We are going to keep that a secret. That’s just for us at the moment.

Will you be getting married after the baby comes along?

Sid: Yes, we are going to have the baby first and then the wedding will be in the summer.

Victoria: I want to be able to get into a nice dress and really enjoy the day so we will wait until the baby is a few months old before we celebrate our big day.

What do your children think, Victoria?

Victoria: They are really excited about the new addition to the family. We’ve told close friends and family but that’s it until now.

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And congrats on your engagement! Where did you first meet?

Sid: We were at a party at Ronnie Wood’s house in 1998. We’re both friends with his son Jamie.

Victoria: It was a big party. Kate Moss was there, John Galliano, Noel Gallagher, Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger. Sid doesn’t remember how we met but I do. I recall standing in the kitchen having a glass of wine, Sid walked in and I thought he had a cheeky smile. I think I knew who he was but it wasn’t a big thing to me – I didn’t watch much TV.

He came towards me, hit Jamie and said, “Is she single?” while looking at me, so I could hear him. He asked for my number and I gave it to him.

Sid: We hit it off straight away. I was certainly keen.

What came next?

Victoria: We went away together with a few people to see The Stones in Amsterdam.

Sid: Then we kept it quiet for a while.

Victoria: I was going to Cambridgeshire to see him most weekends.

Sid: We were together for a year and we can’t really remember why it ended. I think it was just one of those things where we were young – we didn’t sit down and split up or have an argument.

What happened after you broke up?

Victoria: Sid was the last person I was with before I met someone else and got married. I was married for 19 years and I have two children.

Sid, your journey was a bit different…

Sid: I’m so glad we’re back together now because we would never have lasted back then. I was on EastEnders and it was all a bit crazy.

Was it hard to hold down relationships at that point, Sid?

Sid: I suppose it was back then. I was young and on TV. I had a few short-term relationships, nothing serious really.

Did you think you might be a bachelor for life?

Sid: I did, especially after my last relationship. I was single for five or six years – you get used to it and it becomes the norm. I was quite down and a bit depressed. I had a golfing accident a couple of years ago [January 2020] and it knocked me for six. I lost a lot of my teeth, they weren’t looking great, and it was also lockdown. I was lost and a little bit messed up. I didn’t have the confidence to meet people or go on dates, I got stuck in a rut. But luckily I snapped out of it when I met Vic last September. Her profile popped up on my Facebook and I recognised her. We added each other, started chatting and became friends. Vic looked the same, she hadn’t aged. She even smelt the same. It was like time hadn’t passed. I do think in life you can only have a relationship when you’re happy.

When did you get engaged?

Sid: I first floated the idea a couple of months after we got back together. I’ve never been married and it just felt right. We were at Eastwell Manor in Kent when I finally plucked up the courage to do it. I booked the bridal suite, champagne and flowers. It was a beautiful day. I got down on one knee.

Victoria: There were a few tears. It was really special.

Have you thought about the wedding?

Sid: Well, after I proposed we went for dinner and a walk around the grounds. There was a magical little garden which looked like it was for weddings. We both agreed straight away that was where we wanted to get married. We’ve been to some amazing country hotels and spas but for some reason it just felt right.

Victoria: We say we don’t want it to be a big wedding, but what we mean is we’re not inviting people for the sake of it. Only people who are close to us.

Who will you invite? Will your EastEnders friends be there?

Sid: Oh yeah, definitely Scott Maslen, Charlie Brooks, Patsy Palmer, Dean Gaffney. My daughters in the show too.

The previous times you got married were on-screen to Patsy Palmer [who played Bianca Jackson]…

Sid: When Patsy and I first got married, it was like a royal wedding. We were on the front page of The Mirror and 22 million viewers tuned in to watch it. Our wedding is going to be more of a private affair.

Are there any special roles chosen yet?

Victoria: My daughter will be maid of honour. She’s already chosen that.

Do you get on with Victoria’s children, Sid?

Sid: We all really get on, they are lovely, well-natured, polite kids. That’s what’s made it easier being together. It does make a difference if they like and accept you.

Have you told friends and family about the baby?

Sid: We’ve kept it quiet to be honest, but we’ve told our families. I actually spoke to Victoria’s dad before I proposed and asked his permission. I really love her mum and dad. That was months ago.

My original idea was to do it with her mum and dad and our friends but then I thought that’s not really personal.

Does it feel like you have a whole new family now?

Sid: Yeah, it does. I lost my way before but now I’ve found Victoria, it’s made my life worthwhile again.

Sid, you worked with Al Pacino on 1985 film Revolution. Will he be at the wedding?

Sid: I’ll invite Al Pacino. Funnily enough Dexter Fletcher texted me a couple of weeks ago to say congratulations on my book, and he said he was with Al, who sends his best.

What about Adele, will she get an invite?

Sid: Well she’s not with my best friend Simon [Konecki] any more but, of course, out of respect she will be invited. They are actually still really good friends, they still get on well, so if she can make it, then definitely. Simon is going to be my best man. I was Simon’s best man at their wedding. And then I’ve got another friend who will also be best man, so I’ll have two.

Victoria, have you found a dress yet?

Victoria: Not yet, but I want something simple and elegant.

Sid: I say go down the Carrie Johnson route and just rent one.

What about entertainment at the wedding?

Sid: Well, I was going to get my mate Bruce Springsteen to sing! Ed Sheeran. Definitely some live music and some good DJs. Patsy is a really good DJ, she DJed at my 40th so I’ll definitely be asking her.

What’s next for you, Sid?

Sid: I’ve started writing the second part of my autobiography. The second book will cover my later life. When I went to the publishers they were more interested in my early years – it was one of hope and it felt quite cathartic.

Would you like to return to EastEnders?

Sid: Never say never. Charlie Brooks is back now. I’d love to work with Charlie again. They haven’t killed off my character, so they’ve left the door open for me to return. I’m in talks for a couple of other projects. It’s all very exciting.

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