When Britain’s Got Talent star Tom Ball and his wife were told by NHS doctors they would not be given IVF because their chances of conceiving were so low, they were devastated.
After years of trying, they had all but given up on their dream of becoming parents, with doctors insisting that treatment would simply be a waste of tax payers’ money – even though the couple were both still in their 20s.
The blow was even more devastating because Hannah herself works for the NHS as a pediatric nurse, working with critically ill children at a Sussex hospital.
But Tom, who came third on BGT in 2022 before going on to appear on America’s Got Talent: All Stars the following year, has revealed that after just one round of privately funded IVF, they are expecting their miracle baby which is due in January.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the former comprehensive school drama teacher, said: ‘When the NHS told us that the chances of IVF working was so low that they didn’t think it was a good use of their money we were devastated.
BGT star Tom Ball reveals he and his wife are expecting a miracle baby following one round of private IVF after NHS doctors claimed treatment would be a waste of tax payers’ money
After years of trying, they had all but given up on their dream of becoming parents, with doctors insisting that treatment would simply be a waste of tax payers’ money – even though the couple were both still in their 20s (Tom pictured on BGT in 2022)
‘This really is our miracle baby – and I can’t stop saying it. We are both over the moon.
‘It all just feels like one big miracle, our miracle baby, and I’m not taking any of it for granted. We are just so happy.’
He released his debut album and will embark on his biggest tour next year, where he will play 35 venues all over the UK, and is also working on a second album.
But more than anything he is so relieved that his showbusiness career – which was kickstarted on the ITV talent show where he captured the hearts of the nation with his powerful voice – has meant he will become a father.
‘These last two years have been absolutely incredible. I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world, and release music, but it has also given me the ability to start my family,’ said Tom.
‘I was working as a teacher, and my wife is a nurse, so there was no way we would have been able to afford to go private if all of this hadn’t have happened.
‘I do pinch myself when I say this, but my full time job is a full time recording and touring artist, and it’s completely changed my life.
‘It is only because of all these amazing opportunities I’ve had, we were in a position to go private, and at least try to keep our dream of becoming parents alive.’
But Tom, who came third on BGT in 2022 before going on to appear on America’s Got Talent: All Stars the following year, has revealed that after just one round of privately funded IVF, they are expecting their miracle baby which is due in January
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the former comprehensive school drama teacher, said: ‘When the NHS told us that the chances of IVF working was so low that they didn’t think it was a good use of their money we were devastated
He added: ‘This really is our miracle baby – and I can’t stop saying it. We are both over the moon. It all just feels like one big miracle, our miracle baby, and I’m not taking any of it for granted. We are just so happy.’
He released his debut album and will embark on his biggest tour next year, where he will play 35 venues all over the UK, and is also working on a second album
While they were able to fund their dream financially, the couple who live in Crawley, West Sussex, were fearful of how difficult going through IVF could be.
They say they had spoken to others going through their own fertility journeys and were aware how heart-wrenching it could be.
Crooner Tom, who has been compared to entertainers Michael Buble and Michael Ball, released his debut album, Curtain Call, back in May, the same month wife Hannah discovered she was pregnant.
The week Hannah had the egg transfer Tom had to go away for a series of shows in Mykonos, Greece, and discovered they were expecting the moment he got home.
Hannah said: ‘Tom was away, and I’d been doing pregnancy tests every day! I couldn’t help it. The first day there was a really faint line, and then I did one the next day, and the next. I didn’t tell Tom what I was doing. I was so scared. I was picking Tom up from the airport and that’s when I told him and showed him all the tests. It was the happiest moment, but at the same time we just had to take it easy because we didn’t know what might happen.”
Tom had the perfect present for Hannah after buying her a ‘mum-to-be” locket when they had been struggling to conceive naturally.
He said: ‘The favourite part of that day, about a year and a half before, when me and Han were really, really starting to get frustrated and annoyed that we weren’t able to conceive, I was up in Liverpool doing a show. I saw this locket with the words ‘mum to be’ engraved on the back so I bought it and kept it hidden from Hannah all this time. The moment she told me I ran upstairs and gave it to her.’
In fact, she cried and cried.
Crooner Tom, who has been compared to entertainers Michael Buble and Michael Ball, released his debut album, Curtain Call, back in May, the same month wife Hannah discovered she was pregnant
She added: ‘It was the most beautiful present and the fact that he’d got it all those months before and kept it hidden, it was just so special. I wear it everyday. It’s got a picture of our successful embryo inside, and then when baby arrives, I’ll be able to add another picture.’
The couple kept their baby news a secret for those first few days, and shared with their family on May 24th – the same day Tom’s debut album was released.
Tom said: ‘That was really special, being able to celebrate the album with my family and also tell them that we were having a baby. It’s something I will never forget. That’s been the really lovely part of all this, finally being able to tell people and enjoying this time.
‘Hannah is now 23 weeks, we’ve had our scan and decided to keep the gender a surprise. We’ve got our girl name sorted but are currently arguing over the boys name, but I will give in and she will win but that’s alright! She’s started to show now, it’s only been over the last three or four weeks but the bump is there.’
The couple are both looking forward to 2025 with their baby due at the end of January and Tom’s big 35 date UK tour, Spotlight, starting just two months later in March.
He said: ‘Yes I’ll be out on tour but I’ll be able to come home in-between shows and of course Han can visit with baby. We’ve already bought the little headphones! It’s all so exciting.
‘I toured with The Overtones and didn’t realise how much I would love it, they taught me so much. I’m doing a few more dates with them at the end of the year and then next year I’ve got my own tour, it’s going to be the biggest one I’ve ever done.
‘And alongside that I get to produce my second album which is going to be songs from stage, screen and definitely some songs relating to baby! We don’t know what’s on there yet, we’re still in those early discussions but they’ll be something in there for baby.’
Tom has seen his life change dramatically since that very first audition on Britain’s Got Talent back in 2022
Tom has made sure that he’s going to be home with wife Hannah as they prepare for the birth and for those first few weeks afterwards before heading out on tour and writing his second album.
Hannah jokes: ‘I’ll be popping out a baby and he’ll be popping out another album and tour!’
Tom has seen his life change dramatically since that very first audition on Britain’s Got Talent back in 2022.
Hannah watched from the audience as he belted out Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Glamorous judge Amanda Holden said that Tom as one of the best singers the show had seen in its 16 year history and although he finished third in the final he flew to the US to appear on America’s Got Talent: All Stars.
He received the first ever group golden buzzer in the show’s history and the clip of him singing ‘The Sound of Silence’ went viral, with more than 90 million views online.
It was after his success on the two talent shows that Tom left teaching to concentrate on his music career and even underwent a bit of a glow up, chopping off his trademark curls.
