CASUALTY star Gillian Kearney today spoke for the first time about life as a new mum.

Gillian, who is originally from Aigburth, gave birth to her son John Gerard, weighing 8lb 3oz, on August 26.

She admitted she is enjoying her best job yet – being a parent – as she prepares for her first public appearance after becoming a mum.

Gillian will give a question and answer session after a screening of In His Life: The John Lennon Story at Liverpool’s FACT next week.

The actress, who now lives in Bristol, said: “I’ve been back in Liverpool with my family since I had him and I had great support from the Liverpool Women’s hospital.

“We decided on the name John because we both really loved it and Gerard is my dad’s name and my mum’s father was called John Gerard.

“My partner doesn’t have to be back in Bristol until January so we’re enjoying spending time in Liverpool.

“It has been great being back, our baby is used to being around lots of people already. We’re not short of people wanting to take him out in his pram.

“It’s really nice to know we’ve got the family around us and they’ve been so generous, we haven’t had to buy him anything yet, they’ve been wonderful.

“He’s as good as gold. He’s no trouble at all, even the birth wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. It was painful but you forget about the pain once the baby is born, it was definitely worth it. He’s gorgeous.”