12 October 2023 , 08:05
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A Teletubbies star has announced she is pregnant - leaving many fans feeling "super old".
Jess Smith, better known as the 'Teletubbies Sun Baby', has announced the exciting news that she’s starting her own family. She played the giggling baby, who appeared in the sun on each episode of the hit children's show between 1997 and 2001. The child star is now in her mid-20s and took to her social media to share her happy news.
Posting a pic of her ultrasound, she wrote: “When two become three.” Jess also tagged her partner Ricky Latham in the post. Fans were quick to share their congratulations to the couple. “The Teletubbies Sun Baby is having her own sun baby,” one wrote. Another added: “Congratulations Jess. Wonderful news." Someone else commented: "Congratulations!!! You're gonna have your own sun baby!!!"
Jess is welcoming her baby with partner Ricky
She shared a pic of her ultrasound with her followersA fourth wrote: "The teletubbies baby is having a baby." While another gushed: "Teletubbie baby Congratulations! Nursery theme idea (you are my sunshine)." One added: "Sun baby having a baby...damn I'm old af....congratulations mate." The Teletubbies was a huge sensation, as it followed the goings-on of creatures Tinky Winky, Dipsy, La-la and Po in Teletubbyland. It was created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport in 1997. Sun Baby Jess has previously shared how she landed the gig on the hit show. Speaking to BBC South West, she told presenters it was a complete chance encounter.
She recalled: "I was being weighed at the hospital. My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they’d seen any smiley babies.” Jess revealed the filming secrets on how they were able to get her to smile for the show. She said her dad would sit behind the camera and play with toys and race cars to help make her do her famous giggle.
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Yet Jess felt embarrassed about being the Teletubbies baby, and only confirmed she was the childhood icon in 2015. She admitted: "I used to hide it, but after a lot of encouragement from my friends at university, I’ve gained the confidence to come out with it. I am the sun from the ‘Teletubbies’. Everyone says they can see the likeness between my face now and me as a baby. I still have a baby face. I haven’t changed much either. I am still giggly.”
Jess played the original Teletubbies Sun BabyLast year Jess left Teletubbies fans stunned when she revealed she works in security. "I now work for a security company based in Medway, managing the administrative side of the process," she shared. She also opened up about her future plans, which include "travelling and seeing more parts of the world, before settling down and starting a family".
Speaking to Daily Star, Jess added she doesn't remember much from the filming of the children's show. "I've been told I was placed in front of a mirror and was laughing at myself," she explained. In 2021, fans thought Jess had welcomed her own child when in fact she was actually meeting the latest latest Teletubbies sun star, Berry.
In response to the confusion, Teletubbies official social media page clarified: "This is the original Sun Baby, Jess Smith, with our new Sun Baby, Berry! Seeing Jess all grown up makes us feel old too!” The show came back for a revival on CBeebies in 2015, when baby Berry assumed Jess' role.