It seems that Derek Branning has quite the double life, given that it was recently revealed that we’re soon to meet his long lost daughter, and now, a new plotline reveals that he has a son too!

The storyline begins when Derek (Jamie Foreman) conspires with Bianca’s kids Tiffany (Maisie Smith) and Morgan (Devon Higgs) to take care of a stray kitten that they’ve found.

Derek tells the children that they should keep the secret from their mum because the poor woman can hardly afford to provide food for them, let alone a stray cat.

So, he tells Bianca (Patsy Palmer) that he’ll babysit the kids when they claim to be too ill to go to school, and a cash strapped Bianca is only too grateful that she won’t have to take time off work…

Derek has such a good time with Tiff and Morgan that he starts to think he could be a good dad, and after suggesting the kids name the kitten Joey, it will transpire that that’s his son’s name.

So, on a mission to begin being a dad to Joey, but not wanting to put the lad – and himself – in an awkward position, Derek enlists his new dogs body Alfie (Shane Richie) to take a watch to Joey as a peace offering of sorts.

Alfie duly does as requested while a nervous Derek waits in the car, but when Alfie returns, he tells Derek that Joey didn’t want the watch and made it clear that he wants nothing to do with his father.

We’ll see that drama play out on Thursday, April 26 at 7.30pm, but of course, as mentioned, Derek’s daughter is due to land in the Square soon…

I wonder if there are any more kids we don’t know about yet?