Made in Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump and his fiancée Alice Yaxley are expecting their first child, the couple said, and have revealed they are having a boy whom they plan to call Marmaduke, with the family nickname "Duke." The pair, who announced their engagement in March, are four months pregnant and filmed scenes breaking the news to their cast mates for the show's new season.

Alice, 24, said the pregnancy was a surprise because she has polycystic ovaries and had not expected a positive test. "It was definitely a surprise," she told the Daily Mail. "I had missed a period, but I have polycystic ovaries, so it wasn't a shock to have missed a period. But I did a test to be safe, and I wasn't expecting anything, but it was positive. It was a big shock, we looked at each other and thought, wow, this is big but everything else in our lives was so right."

Sam, 28, said the couple learned the baby's sex through a blood test because they did not want any more surprises. "We are having a boy," he said. The choice of name reflects family connections: Sam said the baby will be called Marmaduke, with the short form "Duke," a name he said his late father liked. He explained that his father, Mark Vanderpump, who died in 2018, had once hoped to nickname Sam's brother "Duke." Sam said the name appealed to him in part because of a scene in Downton Abbey.

The couple said they first told their close families before revealing the news on camera. They described an overwhelming outpouring of support, with Alice's father said to have been particularly thrilled. Sam said his mother has also been excited at the prospect of becoming a grandmother.

Sam said his aunt, reality television star Lisa Vanderpump, has been a strong support since his father's death and welcomed Alice into the family. He said Lisa invited Alice to stay with her in the United States, has nicknamed her "Ally" and asked to be informed about wedding plans so she can attend. The couple said Lisa made a cameo with them while filming a new season of one of her shows.

The pair met in July 2024 while in crowds watching the Euro 2024 final, became engaged eight months later and have been together 14 months, they said. They acknowledged that some cast mates criticized the pace of their relationship on Made in Chelsea but said they planned to enjoy their engagement. The couple said they may hold a small, low-key civil ceremony later this year so Alice can take Sam's surname before their child is born, with a larger celebration planned in 2027 for about 200 guests.

Alice described a difficult first trimester marked by severe morning sickness that left her unable to work for three months. "I have been suffering with very bad morning sickness, I haven't been able to keep food down but luckily, have found a tablet that has really helped me," she said. Sam said he has been caring for her during that period, cooking and helping maintain a positive outlook.

The couple are preparing to move to a larger apartment in Chelsea as they ready for parenthood. They said they will remain in the area but are relocating from a flat near King's Road to a larger apartment on Drayton Gardens.

Sam also reflected on his own health scare earlier in the year. In January he told the Daily Mail he had suffered life-threatening sepsis after liver and kidney failure and described being "lucky to be alive." He said the experience brought him and Alice closer together.

Both Sam and Alice indicated they expect to share parts of the pregnancy on the forthcoming series of Made in Chelsea but do not plan to film the birth. Alice said the current season contains "a lot of raw scenes" for them and that she feels more settled now after establishing friendships on the show.

Polycystic ovaries, which Alice cited as a factor in why the pregnancy was unexpected, occur when the ovaries develop multiple small follicles that can disrupt ovulation and cause irregular periods. The couple said learning they were expecting provided relief to Alice, who had previously worried she might face difficulties conceiving.

They will present the pregnancy reveal and related scenes in the new season of Made in Chelsea, where viewers will see their family and cast reactions unfold. The couple said they hope to continue documenting parts of their journey but will keep certain moments, including the birth, private.