BBC EastEnders legend, 53, celebrates birth of second child with a sweet nod to soap past

EastEnders legend Michael Greco has been over the moon as he introduced his newborn son, paying homage to his time on the soap by choosing a name that resonates with his character's past.

The 53-year-old actor is celebrating fatherhood once more after his partner Helen Harris gave birth to their second child. The joyous news of their expanding family was first announced towards the end of 2023, reports OK!

The actor, who famously played Beppe Di Marco on the BBC soap, couldn't contain his excitement as he shared heartwarming pictures of his new son. Expressing his elation, he remarked: "I am truly grateful to be gifted another beautiful, baby boy. The value of life in today's world, becomes more and more precious, day by day. The joys of being a father has made me the man I have become. Nothing in this world is more important than our health and happiness and today I am the happiest man alive. I have another angel at my side."

He also lovingly referred to his firstborn, two-year-old Gianluca, adding: "You have a gorgeous baby brother. Welcome to the world baby Gianni. I love you."

During his stint on EastEnders, Michael's character Beppe was on screen from 1998 to 2002, portraying a police officer turned taxi driver with a brother named Gianni a moniker he has now bestowed upon his own son.

Fans didn't hesitate to shower the comments section with warm wishes and congratulations for the star, with one fan commenting: "Congratulations to all, he's beautiful." Another added: "Congrats to you both! He is absolutely gorgeous."

Westlife's Brian McFadden was quick to express his joy, commenting: "Delighted for you bro xx." EastEnders' Max Bowden chimed in with a warm: "Congratulations mate! " while actress Dawn Steele couldn't hide her excitement, exclaiming: "Oh my goodness! Congratulations to you all- love his name too."

Back in December last year, Michael had taken to social media to share the wonderful news of his growing family, posting a sonogram image and writing: "Absolutely over the moon to announce another Baby Greco is on the way. My beautiful boy Gianluca cannot wait to see his younger sibling. Thank you God for giving me another miracle baby. See you in June bubba. Xxx."

Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

Michael first became a dad in 2021 when he welcomed his son Gianluca with his partner Helen. He later shared that the birth was fraught with challenges, describing it as an incredibly traumatic time for the family.

Gianluca, whose name means 'gift of God' in Italian, was born six weeks early due to Gastroschisis, a rare condition where the intestines develop outside the body, which can also impact other organs such as the stomach and liver.

Upon the arrival of his son, Michael announced: "My boy. Gianluca Greco. Born July 1st 2021. Weighing 4.47lbs. The little man was born prematurely due to the fact that previous scans had failed to pick up his rare birth defect called Gastroschisis. The consultant suggested it was best for him to born early so that he could get the necessary care and attention. He was born at University College of London Hospital @uclh."

He continued: "Their staff were extremely professional and Mother and Baby could not have been in better hands. Dad was a 'tad' emotional to say the least! Baby has already had his first operation to replace his bowel where it should belong and is under the world's best care of @greatormondst where he will be in ICU for a while and most probably for up to 6 weeks. My heart is full already and this is by far the best day of my life. I love you Gianluca more than I can ever imagine."

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.