Melissa Reeves gives birth to Danny Simpson's baby after unmasking him as daddy

Ex On The Beach star Melissa Reeves confirmed the arrival of her newborn daughter after footballer Danny Simpson refused to publicly acknowledge her pregnancy

Melissa Reeves has given birth to her first baby with footballer Danny Simpson - after exposing him as the dad earlier this year.

The Ex On The Beach star and former beauty pageant queen, 26, confirmed the happy news of her new arrival on Instagram, telling friends and fans: "24/05/2020 My world changed forever my baby girl arrived right on her due date words can’t describe how in love with this little angle I am. I feel so happy and blessed.

"I was in labour for 3 days, then we had to opt for a C section because it turns out she is one big baby, she’s 8lb 11!!"

She and Danny, 33, are not in a relationship after she fell pregnant with his daughter during a fling.

Melissa announced her pregnancy in January but refused to say who the father was, before unmasking him as Danny in March in a since-deleted Instagram snap of her scan.

At the time, her friends said while the shamed footballer wasn't publicly acknowledging her pregnancy, he was standing by her.

"Danny and Melissa's relationship didn't work out but he has vowed to support her financially and emotionally," one told the Sun.

"They have agreed to co-parent their little girl as best they can. It's a shame they haven't worked things out as a couple.

"Melissa understands why Danny is not publicising the fact that he’s the father of her child - but she said he's been great behind the scenes."

The friend also added that Melissa had "wanted for nothing" during her pregnancy, and that Danny - who won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016 - paid for a lavish baby shower at an upmarket Liverpool hotel after she announced their child's sex.

Danny is yet to publicly comment on Melissa's birth, although on April 24, he posted a topless snap of himself in the garden with the cryptic caption: "Who else is learning a lot about themselves during this quarantine??"

The former Premier League striker, who currently plays for Huddersfield Town, has hit headlines before for his conduct towards women.

In 2015, Danny was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend Stephanie Ward, who is the mother of his eight-year-old daughter Skye.

A court heard that police who answered the 999 call found the footballer sat on top of his girlfriend with his hands around her neck.

Danny, who has also played for Manchester United and Newcastle, was sentenced to 300 hours of community service. It was later reduced and he was placed on a curfew for 21 days.