She's made no secret of the fact that she is "itching" for another baby, and now that Katie Holmes has been spotted sporting an inconspicuous baby bump, rumours are rife that she is pregnant with her longed-for second child. The news couldn't come at a better time for the actress, amid reports that her marriage to Tom Cruise is under strain and that her career is on the rocks.

Ahlan! discovers why the new baby news could be the saving of TomKat...

Back on track

Marriage mended
Most importantly for Tom and Katie, the pregnancy news will reunite them after months of bickering. Tom will be pleased to have Katie back in her cosy stay-at-home mum role in LA, while Katie has always loved relishing in the cared-for-wife role.

Together again

A ticket home
Controlling Tom was upset when Katie accepted a role in Broadway production All My Sons - her first job since becoming a stay-at-home mum. But the push for independence has backfired. Alone in New York, Katie missed her family and, at Tom's insistence, he and Suri followed her to New York.

"She and Tom are committed to keeping their family together," said a theatre insider. But the situation caused tension in the marriage, not least as it was Katie's idea to split the family and Tom - who had to foot the bill for the relocation - was against it from the start.

The couple are reportedly shelling out a staggering Dhs735,000 a month on a two-storey penthouse on Park Avenue. The pregnancy will allow Katie to return with her family to their home in LA, with her head held high - without having to admit she made a mistake.

Career saviour

The easy way out?
Early reports indicate that tickets for her Broadway debut - scheduled for autumn - are failing to sell. Producers even refused to up the ticket price, despite the A-lister's name being attached to the project.

One ticket vendor confirmed, "I bought 1,000 tickets to the show - I still have them."

It's an embarrassing blow for the actress, considering her much-hyped appearance and her reported Dhs3.7 million fee. To make matters worse, Tom's ex Nicole Kidman's Broadway debut in The Blue Room netted a staggering Dhs14.7 million in pre-sales, opening Katie up to jibes from theatre insiders. "I think if she takes her clothes off, she may catch up," quipped one critic.

Tom's turnaround

Damage control
Some sources are blaming the fall-out over Tom's plummeting popularity for the poor response to Katie's ticket sales. Since the damning accusations made in Andrew Morton's biography of Tom published earlier this year, Tom's been associated more with the wacky religious "cult" than with his acting career. The arrival of his second natural child will go some way towards humanising the actor again in the public's consciousness, while Tom will be more than happy to play the ‘normal dad' card again in the hope his fans come back to him.

The final straw for Posh!

The pregnancy news will bang the final nail in the coffin of the friendship between Katie and Victoria Beckham. The pair's friendship is rumoured to already be on shaky ground, with Tom disapproving of Victoria's influence over his wife's weight, haircut and dress sense. Now, independent Posh will be furious that her former friend is jeopardising her Broadway dream to play happy families with Tom.

Nothing in common

New besties
Keen to make a name for herself Stateside, Posh feels she needs to be surrounded by career-minded, ambitious women if she wants to be taken seriously. She's turned her back on homely Katie, in favour new besties Eva Longoria and Kate Beckinsale.

Like Posh, Eva has reportedly put her baby plans on hold while she concentrates on carving out a movie career, and this new alliance is likely to garner Posh more column inches than a friendship with Katie - who is now only famous for being Mrs Tom Cruise. The slight will come as a bitter blow to Katie, who befriended Posh when she was at her most lonely in LA.

"Katie and Tom are true Hollywood royalty. They turned Victoria and David into stars in the US, and threw a party for them when they arrived," said a source.

Betrayed

Career plans
Although David has talked openly about wanting another baby, Victoria has put those plans on ice while she concentrates on her career in fashion. She openly encouraged Katie to pursue her Broadway dream - with or without Tom's consent.

"I think Katie is incredibly talented and I am so proud of her," said Victoria when Katie landed the part. Posh will see the pregnancy as Katie letting Tom scupper her chance at a career revival.