Laurie Brett's baby bump bother

Laurie Brett is turning to unusual methods to disguise her growing baby bump from 'EastEnders' viewers.

The actress plays cafe worker Jane Beale - who is married to Walford wimp Ian (Adam Woodyat) - in the BBC One soap, and as her alter-ego is unable to conceive after being shot in the stomach by her husband's evil stepson, show bosses are coming up with creative ways to hide Laurie's changing shape.

She explained: "I have to find novel ways of hiding the bump. It's been quite fun thinking of ways to do that. One involves a feather boa."

Laurie - who is due to give birth in May - also revealed her co-star Adam realised almost immediately that she was pregnant, as he knows her so well.

She said: "I didn't tell him, he told me. He said, 'You're pregnant aren't you?' It's not surprising that he knew as we spend more time with each other than we do with our partners. I had suddenly become very sensitive to certain smells, and wasn't going out for cigarette breaks."

Adam is not the only co-star who is excited for Laurie, and while the female members of the cast have been supportive, she admitted she has been surprised by Steve McFadden - who plays hardman Phil Mitchell - showing his soft side.

She said: "Jo Joyner (Tanya Branning) has been giving me advice and Linda Henry (Shirley Carter) and Cheryl Fergison (Heather Trott) want to take me out shopping.

"I keep arriving at my dressing room to find that Steve McFadden has left all sorts of gifts outside my door including a beautiful crib. He's been like Santa."