OH baby! Is EastEnders youngest recruit Louise Fowler in for a bit of rough and tumble in the New Year's TV ratings war when she takes on namesake Connor Fowler.

The newborn - who is currently causing a rumpus in Albert Square in a tug-of-love between real dad Phil Mitchell and surrogate pop Mark Fowler - has audiences gripped to their seats.

But when viewers learn what's on offer on "the other side" next Tuesday night at 7.30pm in a new series called "Special Delivery" they may prefer to tune into the real thing and tape EastEnders.

For Connor, the star of Granada's true life show, plays himself as a bump and then a brand new bouncing baby boy.

There will be no dummy run for this young celebrity - now four months old - who lives with his mum and dad Jean and Tony Fowler in Prestbury.

He will takes centre-stage in a new fly-on-the-wall eight-week long documentary based on Macclesfield Hospital's award-winning maternity wing.

And a blow-by-blow account of Connor's arrival has been filmed solely by camerawomen as a bump in his mummy's tummy, his delivery without the gore, and life after birth.

Connor will be the first of many babies from East Cheshire making their bid for stardom each Tuesday night to clash with BBC's mighty EastEnders.

Irish born Jean Fowler, 28, and husband Tony who manage the Litten Tree pub in town are thrilled by their claim to fame.

Connor is their first baby and Jean was pulling pints right up until a week before the birth which was a just a few days overdue on September 3.

She described her experience at Macclesfield Hospital as: "Fantastic - an easy labour." She only needed a little gas and air, and she was supported by hubby Tony.

Midwife Chris Reed, who is also featured in the series, was said to be "brilliant".

And later Grace Hopps, head of midwifery and women's services at East Cheshire NHS Trust said: "We are delighted with the filming, the editing and above all with the heart-warming stories that are told through the experiences of mothers, their new babies and our midwives."

A report last summer, published in the Sunday Times, named Macclesfield as one of the top three maternity services in England.

The Good Birth Guide, written by the Dr Foster organisation, assessed facilities available at maternity units throughout the country.

Macclesfield recorded 20.8 births for each midwife, 11 per cent better than the national average.

Midwives at Macclesfield Hospital and in the community deliver about 1,800 babies a year.

In addition to women from East Cheshire, the maternity unit is a popular choice for mothers from South Manchester, North Staffordshire and the Peak District.

Tune in to take a look in at "Special Delivery" at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 8.