It's been slammed by a host of its former stars and trumped in the ratings by Coronation Street and Emmerdale of late so we had guessed that the bosses at EastEnders would be doing something pretty drastic to pull their ratings back up. However, casting Danny Dyer as the new owner of The Queen Vic was not at all what we expected.

The BBC took to Twitter last night to reveal that British 'ard man Dyer would be joining the cast as Shirley Carter's younger 'bruvva'. Yes, because Walford really needs more Shirley related drama. As if we haven't had enough of her leather clad antics to last us a lifetime.

Dyer will be teaming up with former child star Kellie Bright (who actually played Ali G's girlfriend 'Ma Julie' back in the day and ruled the airwaves on BBC radio drama The Arches) behind the bar, which is currently occupied by Shane Richie's Alfie Moon. We're guessing himself and Peroxide will be hitting the rocks soon then so. Dyer's character Mick is described as a right bloke's bloke, who is more interested in breaking up fights than starting them (makes a nice change at least). He's awfully fond of big sis Shirl, but she's got beef with his missus, so they've been a wee bit estranged for the past few years.

"I'm so excited about starting a new chapter in my career and I cannot wait to become part of the East End family", Dyer said in a statement. He's certainly changed his tune since 2009, when he said that a role in the soap was something he fancied at all. "I'm very excited about joining the show", said Bright. "Not only am I looking forward to working with Danny but becoming landlady of the Vic is a real honour."

The decision to bring the pair in comes as the big bosses desperately struggle to bring the viewers back to Walford. Heaven knows they'll be banking on a Christmas bonanza to pull the soap out of the hole it seems to have dug for itself over the past 12 months or so. You know things are bad when Barbara Windsor is giving out about you on national telly the day before her big comeback cameo...

That's probably just one of the reasons new boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins has been dropping the axe left, right and centre to try and get the show back on track, and he certainly seems to think he's struck gold with the pair. "I'm so excited to have actors of Danny and Kellie's calibre joining what is an already strong and talented company of actors" he said.

"Having been together over 20 years, Mick and Linda have a good marriage and an easy shorthand with each other - but can also still fight like teenagers. They will laugh, cry, argue and make-up... much to the embarrassment of their children and the delight of Albert Square's residents" Treadwell continued. "Mick and Linda still love each other, no matter what life throws at them. And moving from Watford to Walford, life's about to throw them a few curve balls."

We'll start taking bets on who'll have the affair first as soon as the pair hit our TV screens toward the end of the year. We're thinking Mick and Kat, or Kellie and Max. Sure those writers just can't help themselves...