EastEnders actor Danny Hatchard reveals pregnancy and return to Walford
The actor, who joined the cast as Lee Carter in 2014, is expecting his first child with girlfriend Kerry Scouler while reprising his role in the BBC soap.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Danny Hatchard, 35, has confirmed that he and his partner are expecting their first child. The EastEnders star, who portrays Lee Carter, shared the news on social media alongside his girlfriend, model Kerry Scouler. The couple posted a photo strip showing them holding an ultrasound scan. A subsequent image displayed a cake with pink sponge inside, revealing the baby will be a girl. Scouler indicated the due date is January 2027.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of their engagement. The couple confirmed they became engaged last month in Amsterdam. Scouler posted photos of her ring on October 4, writing, “You & me, forever? Don’t mind if “I do”.” The timing suggests the pregnancy was already known privately when the engagement was publicized. Hatchard first joined the BBC soap opera in 2014, playing the son of characters Mick and Linda Carter.
The news has generated a wave of reactions from fellow actors and fans. Co-star Shona McGarty responded with “YAAAAASSS!!!!!!” and expressed her happiness for the couple. Louisa Lytton offered congratulations, while Jonny Labey joked about the January birth month being elite. Other congratulatory messages came from Danny Dyer, Rita Simons, and Ricky Norwood. Emma Barton left a comment with three pink hearts.
Hatchard and Scouler have been dating for six years. Their relationship began when Scouler sent a direct message to the actor expressing an interest in him. In August, she posted a TikTok video describing how she approached him for a cuddle. She captioned the video with text noting that they have remained together for six years since that initial contact. The couple made their relationship public in December 2020 with photos from a holiday in Cyprus. They have since maintained a joint social media account for comedy sketches.
Hatchard is currently back on screen in EastEnders. This marks his first return to the show since leaving the cast in 2017. He is reprising the role of Lee Carter in a dramatic storyline involving his on-screen sister, Nancy Carter. The plot centers on the couple raising a baby for Lee and his former partner, Jess, who struggled to conceive. Although Lee is determined to be a single father, recent episodes have revealed complications regarding how the relationship ended. It was shown that Lee cut ties due to a drinking problem, contradicting his earlier narrative.
The actor described his return to the production as deeply personal. He told Metro that working with the cast again reminded him how much he enjoys his work. He noted that the actors feel like part of his inner circle. “The people I work with on EastEnders, and the cast in particular, genuinely feel like part of my inner circle,” he said. He added that the Carter family dynamic feels like his real Albert Square.
Hatchard’s co-star Kellie Bright, who plays Linda Carter, is also preparing to leave the show. She has held the role for 13 years. Hatchard expressed that collaborating with her again reinforced his passion for the craft. He admitted that the cast members are so close that he sometimes forgets they are not a real-life family. The storyline involving Lee Carter will continue to unfold on the BBC series.
The couple’s personal news coincides with Hatchard’s professional revival. While the pregnancy announcement provides a timeline for the next few months, the soap opera storyline offers immediate narrative stakes for viewers. Hatchard’s character is navigating a complex family dynamic alongside his return to the screen. The January 2027 due date places the birth in the near future relative to the current broadcast schedule.
