Big Brother stars 'expecting baby'

Claire replaced the infamous Nasty Nick

Big Brother stars Claire Strutton and Tom McDermott are reportedly expecting a baby together after a secret five-month romance.

The former housemates from the fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 gameshow started dating in February and discovered soon afterwards about the pregnancy, according to The Express.

The couple reportedly got together after Tom, who was evicted from the house one week before Claire, telephoned her to give her advice about coping with being in the public eye when she was voted out.

Tom appeared to like contestant Melanie Hill

The couple are said to have no plans to marry, preferring to concentrate on the baby and their burgeoning careers.

Claire has done some TV presenting and is keen to launch a musical career while Tom is about to present an Irish version of It's A Knockout.

Claire told the paper: "We were really good friends. If we weren't doing anything we would hang out with each other. He grew on me like a rash, really. I remember that I missed him over Christmas."

Tom added: "We got on very well together as friends for a while. It wasn't like this sudden realisation of our love, it just happened."

According to the article they were shocked when they found out about the baby.

Upset

"I'II be honest, I was a bit upset. It was just a big shock. I think I was scared as well about what Tom was going to say," Claire said.

Big Brother captivated the nation last summer

She is said to have broken the news to him over a meal in a restaurant in Ireland.

The news will surprise fans of the TV series, as the pair appeared to prefer the company of other housemates when they were holed up in the Big Brother house last summer.

Tom, 31, flirted with Melanie Hill during his time on the show and was watched by millions giving her a massage.

Florist Claire, 26, hit it off with eventual winner Craig Phillips, even pretending to romp under a duvet.

Both said the flirtation was just "innocent fun", according to the paper.

The second series of the hit show is to begin at the end of the month. A celebrity version for Comic Relief kept the format in the headlines back in March.