Tameka Empson gives birth to baby boy

Tameka Empson has given birth to her second child.

The \'EastEnders\' actress - who has been on a break from the BBC One soap since last year but hadn\'t revealed she was on maternity leave - revealed she has welcomed a baby boy into the world.

Appearing on ITV\'s \'Loose Women\', she said: "I have a bouncing baby boy. [It was] a challenge.

Scott Mills Faces Potential Stripping of Honorary Doctorate Following BBC Dismissal

"Nothing prepares you for it. I\'ve got my daughter, who is six, doing home schooling, and I\'ve got my newborn, who you\'ve just got to watch everything."

The 43-year-old star - who has played Kim Fox since 2009 - gave birth to daughter Nylah back in 2014, and back then she also took time off without publicly revealing she was pregnant.

Explaining her decision to do the same this time round, she added: "It wasn\'t so much deliberate, I just wanted to enjoy it.

Russell Howard Left Red-Faced After Accidental Innuendo on Claudia Winkleman’s Show

"Something like a baby, you just want to enjoy it before everybody goes, \'How\'s it doing?\'

"You just want to enjoy it for the time, so it wasn\'t a secret as much. Now he\'s here and he\'s loud, everybody knows!"

Her exciting news comes after \'This Morning\' sports reporter Sharon Marshall revealed Tameka would be returning to the Albert Square set in the near future.

Katie McGlynn and Max Bowden Reunite on Stage Following Brief Romance

She said: "The great news is that Tameka is going to be back filming soon.

"I don\'t think she\'s been on the set since last year, and I\'ve really missed the sisterly relationship between Denise and Kim."

Tameka previously opened up about her soap comeback, and admitted working on the show felt like "a holiday".

Louise Thompson Recovers Engagement Ring Two Years After Its Disappearance

She explained: "Being at \'EastEnders\' is like going on a holiday. Even though it\'s work, I enjoy it.

"I\'ve had fans saying they want to see Kim back on the show, which is really nice. It\'s really lovely. I do miss playing her. She keeps me on my toes. She keeps me busy."