Ioan Gruffudd, 51, expecting child with new wife Bianca Wallace as pair share pregnancy news amid ex-wife tensions
Actor Ioan Gruffudd, 51, and his wife Bianca Wallace, 32, have announced they are expecting their first child together.
The Welsh actor shared the joyful news on Father’s Day with a heartfelt Instagram post, writing: “Baby Gruffudd poppin’ out to say hello!”
The caption accompanied a black-and-white photo of Ioan tenderly kissing Wallace’s growing baby bump.
The couple, who tied the knot just two months ago, were quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from fans and friends.
This will be the first baby for the pair, who made their relationship public in October 2021, but it will be Gruffudd’s third child. He shares two daughters, Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11, with his ex-wife Alice Evans.
However, the happy news reportedly hit a nerve with Evans, 56, who has been vocal about her financial struggles since the couple’s 2021 split.
A source close to her claimed the announcement felt particularly cruel: “Alice will be absolutely fuming over this. She’s made no secret of the fact she’s destitute looking after the two kids, so to have him rub how well he’s doing in her face is a real gut-punch.”
According to Grazia, the insider also highlighted the timing of the post, adding: “For Ioan to not only break the news like that but do it on Father’s Day… It’s yet another horribly upsetting saga for her to deal with.”
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Evans and Gruffudd were married for 14 years before their separation and formal divorce in July 2023. Since then, they’ve been locked in a contentious legal battle over custody and financial support.
The actor has previously accused his ex-wife, Evans, of “child abuse” following a legal dispute sparked by their then 13-year-old daughter, Ella, filing a restraining order against him.
His comments came after a Los Angeles judge ruled in his favour, granting his request for the appointment of a child psychologist to assist with the ongoing custody issues involving Ella and her younger sister, Elsie.
This development followed an earlier legal win for Gruffudd, who secured a restraining order against Evans in 2022 amid their increasingly bitter split.
Gruffudd strongly criticised Evans for allegedly encouraging Ella to file the restraining order, and for preventing both daughters from receiving proper therapy. He claimed her interference was harming their well-being.
“Although there is an order for the girls to attend therapy, Alice has repeatedly either refused to bring the girls or interfered with my bringing the girls to therapy,” the actor said.
“Since separation, the girls have missed more therapy sessions than they have attended and they have had multiple therapists. I believe Alice’s actions are child abuse and I am gravely concerned for our children.”
Last month, Evans posted an emotional update on social media, revealing she faced eviction from her Los Angeles home due to unpaid rent.
“Four years of hell. And now the girls and I are going to be homeless. Somebody please help,” she wrote.
“I think I have reached rock bottom. In 16 days, we have nowhere to go. Does anybody have a spare room? I’m so sorry for this. So embarrassed.”
Evans set up a GoFundMe titled “Divorce” which raised more than $18,000 to support her and her daughters.
Earlier this month, she updated supporters with some hopeful news: “We are in our new place! I am so happy, thrilled, grateful and especially thankful,” she said, adding that she, the girls, and their dog Emma finally had “a roof over their heads.”