EastEnders' Steve McFadden 'welcomes fifth baby' with his girlfriend Karen

It has been reported that EastEnders actor Steve McFadden has welcomed his fifth child this month – a little girl.

According to The Sun, the 57 year old, who plays Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap, has had another baby daughter with his girlfriend Karen Cairns. If the reports are true then the little one is named Frankie, in line with the very fashionable gender-neutral baby name trend.

A source is said to have told The Sun that Karen and Steve weren't planning on having a baby at this moment but are delighted by the arrival of their daughter none the less, saying, 'Steve and Karen are both over the moon with little Frankie. Her pregnancy did come as a surprise, but now they are both really happy.'

This baby will be Steve's fifth child, with his fourth partner. He already has a son Matt, 28, with former girlfriend Sue Marshall as well as daughters Teona, 18, and Mollie Jane, 12, with ex-partner Angela Bostock. He also has a little girl Amelie Tinkerbell, seven, who he had with former girlfriend Rachael Sidwell in 2009.

Steve has been asked by various papers to confirm the news but has remained silent. He is notoriously quiet about his personal life and rarely comments on family news. When asked to speak about his second youngest daughter's birth in 2009 a representative for Steve declined to comment, only saying: 'Steve is a very private man.'

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In an interview with the Guardian it was reported that Steve is 'determined' to be a good dad to all of his children, despite being separated from their mothers. In the interview it says that he 'stays in during the week to look after them' and quotes him as saying how important the 'unquestioning love and adoration' you get from your children is to him.