[Kerry]

EastEnders' Bianca Butcher will receive a shock in the New Year when the biological father of her son Morgan arrives on Albert Square.

Actor Chucky Venn has been cast in the role of Morgan's dad Ray, who hasn't seen Bianca for years.

The new storyline for the Butcher clan begins when Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) gets fed up of seeing Bianca struggling financially and decides that Morgan's father should be contributing towards his upbringing.

Unbeknown to Bianca (Patsy Palmer), Whitney soon tracks Ray down and arranges a meeting with him. Ray agrees to the idea as he didn't part on good terms with Bianca and feels there are unresolved issues between them.

However, Ray soon gets the shock of his life when Whitney tells him about Morgan - and it immediately becomes clear that he knew nothing about having a son.

Ray is determined to be involved in Morgan's life and pays a visit to the Square to see him. While Bianca isn't happy to have him around, Ray quickly makes a positive impression on some other ladies in Albert Square.

Speaking of his EastEnders role, Venn commented: "I have had the pleasure of working on many great productions with fantastic artistes such as Morgan Freeman and I have to say working on EastEnders feels like it is up there with the best of them.

"EastEnders is etched in British history and it is an honour and a pleasure to be part of it."

Venn has previously appeared in a variety of film and television roles, including Footballers' Wives, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Dark Knight.

EastEnders will air Ray's first scenes in January 2012.

Meh

[Firewire]

Oh, great. More distant family being written into EastEnders. I'm tired of all the relatives.

[Kerry]

I think every single person in the square is related in some way, shape or form

[Glenn.]

Its getting beyond a joke with all the distant relatives.

Even the Branning family is growing

Think its about time for a fresh new family.

[Jords]

Bianca and Ray will kiss, watch this space.

[flamingGalah!]

Love the way the actor bigs himself up by name dropping Morgan Freeman But he loses any credibility for refering to actors as 'artistes'...