Joe Swash’s sister Shana gives birth! Ex-EastEnders star welcomes first child with fiancé Nick Jones and reveals her newborn baby’s adorable name

Joe Swash’s sister Shana has given birth to her first child with fiancé Nick Jones.

The former EastEnders star, 33, who played Demi Miller during her time on the BBC soap, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal the happy news.

Shana shared a sweet photo of herself, Nick and her daughter, shortly after giving birth.

Revealing her newborn’s name and date of birth, she wrote: ‘Kitty Frances Swash Jones 18.12.2023’

Shana and Nick – who got engaged two years ago – were inundated with well-wishes from social media followers and some of their famous friends.

The ex-soap actress announced she was pregnant in June when she shared a photo of herself proudly holding up her baby scan photos as her loved-up partner kissed her on the cheek.

In August 2021, Shana announced her engagement to carpenter Nick – they have yet to tie the knot.

At the time, she showed off her diamond engagement ring in a slew of images as she sweetly raised her hand to show off the dazzling piece of jewelry.

Giving details about the proposal, Shana took to Instagram to announce the news. She shared a photo of her holding her hand up as he kissed her cheek, and also posted a second photo of them kissing on the lips.

A third image in the gallery saw Shana holding hands with her boyfriend against the beachy backdrop, while the photos were captioned: ‘I SAID YES.’

Shana’s future sister-in-law Stacey Solomon, 33, was one of the first to congratulate her, writing: “Best news ever.”

Her sister Caisie wrote: ‘My sister is getting married!’

Shana later shared another photo of her ring finger as her husband-to-be cheered in the background, alongside the caption: “Happiest girl in the world. [world]’.

Her engagement announcement came after she revealed she was embarking on a new business venture after her Albert Square days.

The former soap star has since opened a coffee stall with her boyfriend called Swash & Jones Coffee co. in London’s Islington.

Last month she told The Sun that it was the lockdown that inspired her to start her own business, explaining: ‘I really fell in love with coffee and the lockdown gave me the impetus to get out of my comfort zone and start my own business to start.

‘Honestly, I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m single, I run it full time and am your local barista in a park near where I grew up.

‘It’s given me the opportunity to meet a lot of people, like the real die-hard fans of EastEnders, and become friends with them too.’

Shana is best known for her role as Demi Miller in the long-running BBC One soap EastEnders from 2004-2006.

When Shana joined EastEnders she was 13 years old, and her character Demi immediately caused a stir due to her teenage pregnancy.

After the birth of her daughter Aleesha, she cut ties with the child’s father, Leo, but the couple later fled Walford together when she feared his family were planning to move to Scotland.

After becoming addicted to heroin, Leo tragically died of an overdose, and Demi was reunited with her family.

She left The Square in 2006 when her mother Rosie decided to leave her father Keith and build a new life in the Cotswolds with her daughter.

Shana added that she has continued to act since leaving EastEnders, with roles in Doctors, Top Boy and My Feral Heart, which earned her a British Independent Film Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She will next star in Love Without Walls, a British indie film that follows the struggles of a young married couple after they become homeless.

Shana said that even though she thought she was only 13 when she got the part, she credits her mother Kiffy for keeping herself, and for Joe being grounded.

She also admitted that when her character was axed by the bosses, she found it “hard” to accept, but that she would be open to reprising her role if she could show her nasty side, like the nasty Square villain Janine Butcher.

Shana’s brother is Joe Swash, also a soap actor, who is married to former X Factor singer Stacey Solomon.

They have three children, Belle, four months, Rose, 16 months, and son Rex, four, and Joe also has son Harry, 15, from his relationship with Emma Sophocleous.