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She won praise for her healthy lifestyle when she shed nearly three stone with a dramatic diet and exercise regime.

Yet now, at seven months pregnant, Hannah Waterman admits she can’t give up smoking.

The former EastEnders actress was last week seen lighting up a cigarette on a car journey with the father of her unborn baby, actor Huw Higginson.

Higginson, 47, who played PC George Garfield in The Bill, seemed unconcerned and also chose to enjoy a few cigarettes while driving the couple’s blue Land Rover near their home in Shepperton, Surrey, on Tuesday.

Last night Hannah, 35, said: ‘Smoking is a terribly difficult habit to quit and sadly I just fell off the wagon. I have been fighting the addiction during my pregnancy but I have sometimes slipped and had the occasional cigarette, but I am trying to quit.’

It is Hannah’s first baby and she added: ‘My advice to people would be not to start smoking in the first place as it is so tough to stop.’

It is not the first time Hannah – who endured a very public split from husband and former EastEnders co-star Ricky Groves – has spoken about her desire to quit smoking.

Speaking at the release of her fitness DVD in 2009, the daughter of Minder star Dennis Waterman said: ‘Smoking’s definitely aged my skin. I’ve got to give up.’

Her smoking habit was criticised by medical experts, who warned that it is hazardous to the health of an unborn baby.

Dr Malcolm Vandenburg, a consultant and pharmaceutical physician, said: ‘Even one cigarette during pregnancy has to be considered an absolute no-no for mothers because of the increased health risks smoking brings.

‘Almost everything that can go wrong with a baby, such as being stillborn or the victim of a cot death, is significantly increased if the mother smokes during pregnancy or is subject to passive smoking.

‘The risk to the baby’s health is increased further if the cigarettes are smoked in a confined space as this leads to the baby receiving less oxygen, and what oxygen it does receive is of a poorer quality. This is why it is vital for all mums-to-be to give up smoking straight away.’

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health, said: ‘Every year maternal smoking causes about 300 completely avoidable still births, 2,200 premature births and 5,000 miscarriages.