Well, all we can say is, it’s about time! Let’s face it; there hasn’t been a decent gay male character in the British soap for what seems like an eternity. Which is a total injustice, considering it was Eastenders that gave us the groundbreaking first ever gay kiss in a UK soap. Yes, we're talking about that infamous "kiss" between Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) back in 1987.

Whilst other popular British soaps like Coronation Street, Emmerdale and teen soap-come-drama Hollyoaks currently features gay characters, Eastenders has been somewhat lacking on that front.

The soap is certainly no stranger when it comes to portraying gay characters. Aside from Colin and Barry, who can forget Simon Raymond (Andrew Lynford) and Tony Hills (Mark Homer)? Although characters like Dr Fred Fonseca (Jimi Mistry) and, more recently, Derek Harkinson (Ian Lavender) have been considerably less memorable.

Hopefully though, all that will soon be about to change. Rumour has it that a new gay character, in the shape of Jane Beale's gay brother (yes, we didn't know she had one, either!), will stir up some trouble with Walford's residents when the character debuts in the soap in the New Year.

As reported in the British newspaper, The Mirror, the big bosses at Eastenders have seen how popular Anthony Cotton’s Sean Tully character is on rival soap Coronation Street, and they have decided it’s about time they had a gay character of their own. Apparently though, he’s not going to be another Sean. Phew! In fact, he’s going to be both charming and suave. Something Sean Tully is most definitely not!

Producers are currently casting for the part. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions of hunky actors who could do the role justice…

Jeremy Sheffield. He made our hearts swoon as a hunky doc on Holby City and bonus, he's gay too...

Queer As Folk's romeo Aiden Gillen. He may be Irish but we're sure he could master an east end accent...

Matthew Marsden. British soap fans will remember him as hunky Chris Collins, but he's currently in quite the demand in the US as a film actor. Although maybe he fancies getting back to his soap roots...

And last but not least, Andrew Hayden-Smith. Maybe Jane has a younger brother. If so, TV presenter and actor Hayden-Smith would certainly set a few pulses racing in Walford...