It's like an episode out of Ricki Lake: Barker and Dineo undergo DNA testing to figure out if they're related or not and suddenly it turns out that Dineo is... his daughter!

In a major twist of events on The Deep, power hungry businessman Barker Haines finds himself dealing with matters of the heart instead of that of his overflowing bank account. On 4 September Dineo revealed her true identity to Barker after her brief conversation with Lee.

Barker's reaction? Well, he gives a huge bark of laughter but we reckon it's brought on by nerves, panic and shock rather than anything to do with his sense of humour. "Barker's initial reaction to the news was denial, denial, denial," Robert Whitehead, who plays the master manipulator Barker, tells tvplus. "He's not the warm and fuzzy type of dad, so his initial reaction was one of suspicion and anger."

Going way back
So how did it all come to be – and can it really be true? Barker and Dineo's mother met in the early 80s at a casino complex in the old Boputhatswana. He was signing off a major deal, as always, while she worked as a croupier at one of the casino's tables. The attraction between them was instant and strong, but only lasted one night. And from that one night of intense love making came... Dineo! Well, at least this is what we are being asked to believe.

Dineo's mom was an independent, strong black woman who chose not to tell Barker about her pregnancy only because of the apartheid regime. On her deathbed she revealed the secret of that night of passion with Barker to Dineo, and this is what brings the fatherless girl to The Deep looking for the truth!

A true duplicate of her mother in terms of being strong, independent and hard working, Dineo's interest in Barker has little to do with his financial resources. "Dineo is hoping for some sort of relationship with the person that she believes is her father and hopefully acceptance from the Haines family," Abena Ayivor – Dineo – tells us.

Family matters
Barker's apples have never fallen far from the tree. There was the late Duncan – a ladies man much like his father, Lee – leader of the corporate pack at ON!TV with her father's business sense and now Dineo – a strong, hard working and sophisticated woman. Each of them is a mirror of Barker. When Dineo asked Mr Baldy for an unpaid (yes, you heard right) internship at Haines International, turning her down wasn't an option.

"Barker gets to know Dineo through her internship at his office, where he builds a level of respect for her because of her hard work and intelligence," Robert says. It's because of this that Barker starts questioning whether or not she really might be his offspring.

So we asked ourselves the question – what about Lee? Up to now she's been Barker's only daughter (that we know of) and his number one heir. Well, Dineo's appearance on the Deep couldn't have been better timed as we just recently witnessed Lee officially resign as CEO of ON!TV. She's following her new calling in life – running a successful hotel called The Duncan. "Dineo's timing couldn't be better. There is now new potential for another player at Haines International," Robert says. Barker certainly has what it takes to turn a pawn into a queen and Dineo might just be the perfect candidate for the job.

Estranged sisters
Lee lost her brother at the hands of her crazy stepmother Cherel and has since seemed lost as the only child. So how will Lee react to this potential new sibling? And how will it affect the dynamic between Lee and Barker? According to Robert it will make their relationship more complex than it is already. "Lee's never gotten over the loss of Duncan and since her relationship with her mother Anthea is very one-sided, the more family she collects the better."

Seems like a bond between Dineo and Lee could be the perfect thing for them both. Dineo's been a single child all her life, so having a big sister to look up to would be wonderful. "Depending on the DNA results, Dineo is really looking forward to having a big sis. She's very apprehensive still, as she doesn't want to be rejected," says Abena. If the results are positive, we may be lucky enough to be entertained by some sibling rivalry at its best.

Spoiler Alert!

Blood or water
Don't miss the shocking episode on Tuesday 11 September when the DNA results are brought to light. There'll be tears – not as many as at Bart's funeral though – but keep a box of tissues at your side. We can't reveal exactly what happens but everything turns out well in the end. "Dineo isn't after Barker's money and her intentions aren't sinister. She just wants to know her family," says Abena.

Do you think Dineo is Barker's daughter? Tell us what you think below.