Shaun Williamson’s secret son had "admired" the actor "for years" before discovering he was his father.
The ‘EastEnders’ legend was tracked down by his son, Gary, in 2013 after Shaun fathered the 34 year old with a circus juggler lover, and Gary has admitted he was a huge fan of the star from his time on ‘Extras’ before realising they were related.
In his father’s new book, ‘A Matter of Facts: One Man’s Journey Into the Nation’s Quiz Obsession’, he wrote: "My dad was in fact Shaun Williamson, an actor that I had admired for years, not from EastEnders but from the sitcom Extras."
Gary and his pals were planning a trip to see Shaun and they nearly had a fan meet-and-greet with the former Barry Evans actor – years before he found out he was his father.
He wrote: "Me and my mates had even planned to go and see him when he was in a show at the Belfast Opera House some years before, so that we could meet him afterwards. How weird would that have been?"
Gary sent Shaun an email claiming to be his secret son and following a paternity test, it was confirmed that the actor – who has kids, Sophie, 22, and 20-year-old Joe, with his ex-wife Melanie Sacre – was in fact his boy.
The pair then met for the first time at a hotel. Shaun has admitted finding out he had a secret son was the "most frightening but amazing discovery" he has ever made.
He told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "When I found out I had another son, I was stunned. I was shaking when I went to meet him.
"We shook hands, drank together, had some food, played pool and then had a big hug at the end of the night.
"He’s got the same droopy eye as me when he gets tired or drunk. He’s part of my family now."