EastEnders and Game of Thrones star, Ricky Champ was over the moon to announce the birth of his second child with his wife Samantha. The newborn boy is the fourth member of Champ's family.
If you're a regular viewer of British TV shows, the name Ricky Champ must be familiar. The British actor rose to fame with the portrayal of Stuart Highway in the famous TV series EastEnders, a long-running British soap opera that has been broadcast since 1985. The series, produced by BBC, has remained its solid position as one of the UK's most successful TV shows in the modern-day.
In 2016, EastEnders received BAFTA Awards and twelve National Television Awards for Most Popular Serial Drama, and 11 awards for Best Soap at the British Soap Awards. The success of the show also catapulted its cast to stardom, with Stuart Highway played by Ricky Champ being a notable character in the series. As Champ was delighted for the birth of his second child, let's take a brief look at the actor's career and his family.
Ricky Champ is a regular face of British TV shows
Born on July 1, 1980, the 41-year-old actor received professional training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. According to Fandom, he became famous with his role as Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her, and inevitably, funeral director Stuart Highway in EastEnders. He landed his role in the soap opera in 2018 and has since impressed fans with his captivating storylines, including confessing to accidentally killing DI Steve Thompson, who later was found to survive. The British star also appeared in several other shows, such as Games of Thrones, The World's End, and Mordecai.
However, according to The Sun, Ricky Champ has been confirmed as one of the five members to depart EastEnders this year. The fans have been disappointed with the producer's decision to stop casting Champ. One account tweeted:
'Ricky, I think EastEnders have made a huge mistake in getting rid of u mate, I think you are great in the show, I hope u have every success in the future mate.'
Leaving with him will be Dayle Hudson, Barbara Smith, and Kelsey Calladine-Smith. The harsh decision that left fans devastated came as Chris, the show's boss, planned a complete overhaul of the storyline and characters with new faces being cast.
Ricky Champ is currently playing the lead role in his life
Despite the sad news, Ricky Champ has been elated for another reason: he and his wife Samantha just welcomed the birth of their second child. After tying the knot in 2016, Samantha gave birth to their elder daughter Beatrix in 2018. According to Dailymail, news about Samantha's second child already spread earlier this year when Ricky posted an Instagram photo that featured an ultrasonic picture next to a colorful punch of flowers and a wooden sign that read: 'Baby Champ. Due July 2022.'
The mother of two announced her newborn son to the world when she posted an Instagram picture sharing the morphine and anti-clotting jabs she needed after her Caesarian operation, captioned: 'Tell me you've just had a C-section without telling me you've just had a C-section.'
The couple has been receiving touching wishes from their fans and followers. Given that Samantha used to struggle with her health during pregnancy, the news is a blessing to Champ's family. In March 2022, Samantha was sent to hospital after experiencing a serious problem. She told followers:
'Not where I planned spending today. Everything’s OK with bub, just high blood pressure for me.'
