JINGS, CRIVVENS—it seems there may be a third Broons twin after all!

Eagle eyed readers of Scotland’s favourite cartoon family kicked up a stooshie last week when they spotted the much-loved Bairn had been replaced by a third twin in a Balancing Broons sketch by illustrator Pete Davidson.

The strip originally appeared in the Sunday Post in March 2002 but it was only when it was reproduced in the 2007 Christmas annual that fans noticed the mysterious interloper.

Broons scriptwriter Dave Donaldson said the third twin may be rarely seen because he is “always getting hurt and ending up in hospital.”

However, Broons devotee Andrew Dolan of Dundee contacted The Courier yesterday to say it was not the first time a third twin had popped up seemingly from nowhere.

Mr Dolan said, “I can recall when the great Dudley D Watkins made an almost similar mistake way back in the 1960s.

“In one panel he had included the Broon Bairn but had also drawn in an extra twin.

“The story, reprinted from The Sunday Post, was included in the (1963) annual. The error was left unaltered in the panel.

“When it first appeared in The Sunday Post quite a few keen-eyed readers spotted the mistake and the following week their letters had arrived on the editor’s desk. He was quick to reply.

“It appeared Dudley Watkins had realised his error and was prepared to correct it. However, the editor suggested he should leave it in for a bit of fun to see if any of the readers would make a mistake.”