EastEnders writer Sharon Marshall has revealed the identity of mystery newcomer Jasper, ahead of episodes revealing his link to Rocky on the BBC soap.
While spoilers did not reveal who he really was, soap writer and This Morning star Sharon has told viewers all they need to know - while reports did tease the news last month.
Teasing the arrival of a "foul-mouthed" newcomer that might not go down well, Sharon revealed who Jasper was and how he was linked to Rocky.
Fresh from the bombshell he is still married to ex-wife Jo Cotton, there's another secret hanging over him next week on the BBC soap.
Jo returns, but something she says to Rocky teases he may have a secret son - and the news leaves Kathy's grandson Bobby Beale reeling.
It all kicks off when Jo returns to Walford weeks on from her debut, and she has the divorce papers with her.
But she leaves her ex rattled when she says something about a mystery character called Jasper, and it's clear Rocky is hiding something again.
She tells him that "Jasper says hello", and soon he is left talking about "his boy".
As Rocky calls Jo and demands to speak to her about "his boy", he declares that his ex "can't keep his boy from him".
Teasing more about the character, Sharon told hosts Holly Willoughby and Craig Doyle that Jasper was not who fans thought.
It's then that she revealed the mystery character was not Rocky's son, but was the pair's pet parrot.
She spilled: "I can confirm there is a new cast member coming in who is difficult. A bit of fruity language, foul-mouthed.
"It's a parrot. It's a parrot called Jasper and he keeps calling Brian Conley names, and honestly, so many takes. He's really taken against him. The names he's called him I can't repeat on daytime TV."
The character could make their debut next week, as spoilers tease that Rocky is told if he wants to see "his boy" again then he needs to meet Jo at The Vic.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
