Ex-EastEnders star Kellie Shirley is pregnant with her third child

Congratulations are in order for ex-EastEnders star Kellie Shirley, who's announced that she's pregnant with her third child.

The actress, who famously played Carly Wicks on the BBC One soap, told OK! that she found out whilst filming the CBBC show Biff & Chip during the summer heatwave.

"I was literally on my hands and knees feeling horrendous and the on set medic called John, said, 'Are you sure you’re not pregnant?'" she explained. "I was like, 'Oh no, I’m hardly seeing my husband! It’s just this heat.'

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"Then I was being sick for a couple of weeks and [John] said, 'Go and get a pregnancy test', so I did. It came back positive straightaway. I was like, 'Oh my God, John was right!' It was a really lovely surprise. I feel very lucky."

After welcoming twins Pearl and Louie seven years ago, Shirley revealed that she and husband Phil Davies are expecting another boy. "I didn’t have a preference," she shared. "I just want the baby to be healthy."

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The actress said that her previous pregnancy "was such a breeze in comparison", and she has been finding it tougher now she's a few years older. After having an emergency C-section before, she is likely to have a planned one this time around.

kellie shirley as carly wicks in eastenders standing against the railings in jeans and a t shirt

BBC

Shirley also discussed how welcoming another child could affect her career, but shared she found inspiration in other mums who gave birth in her forties and are thriving in all aspects of life, like Olivia Coleman.

The former soap star also stated that her son Louie cried when he heard the news, as he was afraid that his parents would love the newborn more than him, whilst her daughter Pearl is insistent that the baby should be called Barry — something that's not going to happen, Shirley explained.

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.