EASTENDERS star Tameka Empson has revealed she secretly had a baby boy during her break from the soap.
The Kim Fox actress, 43, revealed the news on Loose Women today when asked what she'd been doing during lockdown.
The actress explained: "I've been contributing to the human race. Yes I have a baby boy. A bouncing baby boy."
Asked how she was coping with having two children, Tameka explained: "Nothing prepares you for it.
"I've been with my daughter who is six and doing homeschooling and then you've got a newborn. You've just got to watch everything."
She added: "He's sleeping now, which helps. But I'm made of the good stuff. I've come through it OK."
Asked why she kept the birth a secret, she explained: "It wasn't so much deliberate. I just wanted to enjoy it.
"A baby comes and you want to enjoy it before everyone says 'How's he doing etc.' But now he's here and he's loud!"
EastEnders fans were delighted by the news, with one writing: "Awww Tameka had a baby!!"
Another dubbed her a "secretive queen" for managing to keep the whole thing under wraps for so long.
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Tameka, who appeared on Loose Women alongside on-screen sister Diane Parish today, also revealed that she will return to Albert Square later this year.
She left the soap last year after ten years on screen with the character leaving to live in Scotland to start a new life and job after months of rows at the salon.
Aside from EastEnders, Tameka is known to viewers for her stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, when she was partnered with Gorka Marquez.
They were the second pairing to leave the competition that year.