Former Coronation Street writer Daran Little has shared some amazing baby news with fans – and had celebrity pals including Denise Welch rushing to congratulate him on social media

One Coronation Street icon has announced some huge baby news – admitting he’s recently welcomed grandchild number six.

Former writer Daran Little worked on the soap from 2001 until 2010, before moving over to write for rival BBC soap EastEnders from 2010 until 2024. Taking to X – formerly Twitter – on Monday (September 2), he shared the incredible news of his latest arrival.

“Grandchildren No.6 born today. Very proud granddad about to open the vodka!” Daran wrote. Fans and friends were soon chiming in with congratulations, including Denise Welch, who penned: “What!!! Congratulations that’s fantastic.”

Another fan wrote: “Awww that’s lovely, congratulations @DaranLittle. I bet you make an amazing grandad.” Daran replied: “Aww thank you. They keep me young.”

While someone else posted: “You don’t look old enough!” – and Daran joked: “One tries!”

Daran confirmed his sixth grandchild is a boy.

Daran has two sons. Though he’s openly gay, he married a woman initially, explaining: “I’m gay and I got married in a church… to a woman… because I feared being gay in a world that didn’t accept me. That was 25 years ago.”

He later had a civil partnership with a male partner, dissolved in 2014. Daran married Canadian socialite Patrick Rankin but got divorced in 2023.

The star confessed: “I’ve been engaged seven times, married and divorced three times. But I’m not convinced I’ve ever been in love, or do I just fall in love too easily??”

Though he’s rather private about his personal life, he does share rare updates on his grandchildren – writing last year: “What are you doing today? I’m at my son’s wedding, just about to to be in the same room as all my five grandchildren all at the same time.”

But the happy news comes after Daran made a heartbreaking admission on the social media site, writing: “I don’t mean this in any way morbid and all’s great with my world… but, the older I get the more okay I am about dying. I’ve no desire to try and ‘stay young’,