Joel Madden has denied there is any strife between him and fiancee Nicole Richie as they await the birth of their first child later this year.

The Good Charlotte frontman told People magazine recently: “Having a baby is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, and to us.”

“[We’re] really happy. Everything else that the others have printed has been completely false.”

Nicole recently accompanied Joel and the band on their Australian tour and then the couple had a “great little getaway” in Thailand: “We had a great time [but] now we’re just getting home, getting settled in L.A. and getting ready [for the birth].”

A source close to Joel told the New York Daily News that despite being “exhausted from all the travelling”, the dad-to-be is busy “babyproofing” their home - and making plans for the baby’s wardrobe.

The source explained: “Joel, [his twin] Benji and their brother Josh have a clothing line called DCMA. The boys are screening tiny tees and onesies for the new baby. Joel has all kinds of ideas for baby clothes and he gets such a kick out of them when he sees how small they are!”