As we reported earlier, David Witts is about to make his debut appearance on EastEnders, and he’s going to prove that the old adage that states ‘like father like son’ applies to his character Joey Branning, who is of course the son of Derek Branning, who’s played by Jamie Foreman.

However, though Joey’s intentions are originally only to make his sister Alice (Jasmyn Banks) distance herself from their career criminal dad, after he meets Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) a romance is set to begin.

And today’s TV Biz describes the relationship that’s to ensue between Joey and Lucy as one of the “hottest” Albert Square has ever seen.

The paper adds that the show’s bosses are hoping the new romance will have viewers as enthralled as the love affair between Sharon Watts and Grant Mitchell did…

We’ll see Joey in Walford for the first time on July 2nd, and it doesn’t take him long to find out that his dad is stealing money from Lucy, and he vows that he’ll put an end to his father’s intimidation.

However, for Joey, the relationship with Lucy begins as a utilitarian one, only designed to anger his dad.

David said, “Joey knows that if he’s going to be around Lucy then it’s going to annoy Derek.

“He will absolutely relish that, because anything which riles up Derek will show his true colours.

“There will be a slight attraction between Joey and Lucy, as he can see that she’s a pretty girl.

“But certainly at the start, it seems as though she’s being used by Joey to annoy Derek.”

Lucy has of course been holding the Beale empire together since her dad Ian (Adam Woodyatt) went AWOL after his fiancé Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) left the Square on what should have been her and Ian’s wedding day.

As we reported recently, Ian is coming back to Walford soon, but he’s very much a changed man when he does.

However, it’s been revealed today that Ian’s return is facilitated after it becomes common knowledge in the Square that he has in fact gone missing, and isn’t on his honeymoon, which is what Lucy told everyone in the first place…

The Sun reports that when Max (Jake Wood), Tanya (Jo Joyner) and Alfie (Shane Richie) find out the truth, they set about finding Ian, and start visiting homeless shelters as well as posting flyers all over the town.

It’s believed they will indeed find him, and discover that he’s been living like a down and out himself.

Poor Ian!