Soap's Sexy Scot

Robert, who played the seducer Earl of Rochester in last year's Charles II TV series, has landed the role of Vicki Fowler's much older boyfriend.

Tommy, a lecturer at Vicki's college, first turns up tomorrow at the wedding of Sam Mitchell and Andy Hunter.

And the Fowler and Watts families are furious 18-year-old Vicki has fallen for a man 20 years her senior.

An insider said: 'They are universally horrified. Den hates him because he doesn't like the thought of his daughter dating an experienced older man.

'But attempting to warn him off he finds that Tommy can give as good as he gets.

'However, it could be heading for heartbreak because it's clear Vicki is much keener on Tommy than he is on her.'

Tommy doesn't just catch Vicki's eye. Half the female population of Albert Square are soon after him.

And Robert, who also played engineer Robert Stevenson on BBC2 last year, is only the first of a series of a new arrivals bosses hope will bring more glamour - and viewers - to EastEnders.

A 'drop-dead gorgeous' new girl, cousin to the Slater sisters, will be arriving soon too.

A source said: 'There's going to be lots of male and female totty in 2005. The aim is to have lots of appealing, youthful characters who are hell-bent on seduction to spice the show up.They will also counteract the darker plots.'

In recent months, the show has been criticised for its poor characters and storylines.

The new characters will fill the gaps left by Johnson, who is quitting to try other roles, and Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts, who is taking a break.

Tommy will be the latest in a long line of EastEnders charmers, including market inspector 'Tricky Dicky' Cole, brothers Simon and David Wicks and murderous Steve Owen.

The current heart-throb is Dennis , played by Nigel Harman.

He is dating teenager Zoe Slater but was last night seen rekindling his passion for adopted sister Sharon with a lingering kiss.