Off-screen love? Hannah Waterman and Huw Higginson, seen here in a scene from EastEnders in 2001, are believed to be expecting a baby togetherLast weekend she caused a stir when she revealed she was pregnant but didn't say who the father was.
But today, reports are claiming that Hannah Waterman is expecting a baby with former The Bill star Huw Higginson.
Higginson, who played lovable but dimwitted police officer George Garfield, is said to have left his wife of 15 years and their daughters, who are aged nine and 15, to move in with Hannah, who is six months pregnant.
And friend of the couple told the Sunday Mirror that they are 'blissfully happy' and are very excited about starting a family.
Former EastEnder star Hannah was snapped running errands in London last weekend with a sizeable baby bump, which came as quite a surprise to many.
But the father of her unborn child remained a mystery until today, when it was revealed in the paper's report that Huw comforted Hannah when she split from her husband Ricky Groves, 42, just over a year ago.
She then found out she was pregnant and is expecting the baby this summer.
Neither Hannah or Higginson's publicists were available for comment today.
Baby on the way: A heavily pregnant Hannah was snapped out and about in London last weekendHannah, the daughter of Minder star Dennis, 63, used to play Laura Beale, wife of businessman Ian in EastEnders.
She met Huw in 2001 when he had a brief role in the soap as her manipulative landlord Mr Davis.
They stayed in touch and in 2009 were cast opposite each other in plays Rattle of a Single Man and Killing Time and went on a countrywide tour just after Hannah dramatically lost two-and-a-half stone.
Former role: Huw as PC George Garfield in The Bill in 2008Hannah, who was still married to Groves, gushed about Higginson at the time and said: 'Huw is lovely in real life. When there’s only two of you, you have to absolutely trust each other… he is a rock.'
And friends told the paper that Groves, who was left devastated by the split, will be further upset with today's revelation.
They said: 'This will be hard. Things are still pretty raw for him.'
Devastated: Friends of Hannah said husband Ricky Groves, who she split from over a year ago, will be upset about today's reportssource:dailymail