Yummy mummy: Patsy Palmer, seen here at the Vintage At Goodwood Festival in August, is now a mother of four
Patsy Palmer has given birth to a baby boy called Bertie after spending three weeks in hospital following a pregnancy scare.
The EastEnders star's fourth child arrived a month early and will spend the next few weeks in hospital near her home in Brighton, but he is said to be 'healthy and well'.
Patsy, 38, - who plays soap favourite Bianca, famous for her 'Rickaaaaay' catchphrase - has two other children with cab driver husband Richard Merkell and a son from a previous relationship.
A family friend told The Sun: 'Patsy's waters broke a few weeks ago and she was rushed to hospital. To be on the safe side she stayed in. Bertie arrived last Wednesday and the family are all over the moon.'
The couple already have a son Fenton, nine, and daughter Emilia, eight, while Palmer is also mother to son Charley, from a previous relationship with boxer Alfie Rothwell.
In March this year, Bianca was voted the 'Most Popular TV Mum' in an online poll conducted by Yahoo!.
Yahoo!'s TV editor Paul Johnston said: 'As loud and garish as Bianca can be, she also has a huge heart when it comes to her children and would do anything to protect them.'
With Rickaaaaaay: Patsy outside EastEnders pub the Queen Vic with onscreen partner Sid Owen who plays her husband Ricky Butcher
In the soap, fans have seen Bianca recently feeling broody when it was thought her husband Ricky was the father of ex wife Sam Mitchell's baby Richard.
However, the tot turned out to be another lovechild chalked up to Square lothario Jack Branning.
Real-life family: Patsy with son Charley on the left and husband Richard Merkell
After nearly a decade away from the soap, Palmer returned to the show in April 2008.
Her character made an explosive entrance as a mother of four children - stepdaughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and three biological kids Liam (James Forde), Tiffany (Maisie Smith) and Morgan (Devon Higgs).
She married husband Ricky again in February this year.
Who's the daddy? Patsy's character Bianca started feeling broody after her husband's ex wife Sam, played by Daniella Westbrook, had baby Richard and said the child was Ricky's
Source;Dailymail