It was reported recently that EastEnders star Jamie Foreman has signed a new contract with the show which will see him staying on as a fixture in Walford for at least another six months…

And in view of the fact that a magistrates’ court in Kent has ordered that he pay £51,000 in child maintenance arrears, he will doubtless be glad of the work.

The court in Bromley heard yesterday that Jamie – who of course plays villain Derek Branning who, ironically, is presently trying to get his long lost son Joey to see him and will soon meet his daughter, Alice – accrued the arrears during the years when his sons Louis and Alfie were children.

The Sun reports that Chairman Roger Mills told Jamie, “If you fall behind, you could be liable to go to prison.”

And the Daily Mail reports that Jamie’s solicitor told the court, “Mr Foreman is currently under contract with the BBC, due to expire in October.

“If his contract is renewed Mr Foreman hopes to continue payment at the rate he is paying now…

“One would hope that all things being equal Mr Foreman’s success, being as it is, he is confident he can maintain the payments being made now at a regular level, if his contract is renewed.

“If it is not renewed this may have to be reviewed.”

The court ordered that he pay the amount off in installments of £2,000 per month. The amount was originally £67,000, however, he’s already paid off £16,000.