Sir David Jason 's family reacted in the most incredible way upon learning the actor had a daughter he did not know about.
It was revealed by the Mirror on Monday how the Only Fools and Horses star, 83, made the jaw-dropping discovery he has a 52-year-old daughter he knew nothing about for her entire life.
The iconic TV star has welcomed his daughter and grandson into his family and is building a relationship after years apart. “To say it was a surprise is an understatement,” Sir David told the Mirror.
In addition to welcoming daughter Abi Harris into his life, Sir David has also had the pleasure of discovering he has a 10-year-old grandson Charlie.
Prior to discovering Abi was his child, Sir David was under the impression 22-year-old daughter Sophie, who he shares with wife Lady Gill White, was his only offspring.
Both Abi, 52, and Sophie, 22, were raised as only children and are said to be delighted about the fact they both now have a sibling.
Gill has praised daughter Sophie regarding how she has processed the news, saying: “I can only imagine what a shock it was for David and Abi to realise their new relationship and so I felt very supportive towards them from the start. It is lovely to embrace Abi into our family and I’m so pleased that everyone has been so understanding.
“We obviously waited for the right moment to tell Sophie as it was a massive surprise for her too.
“David took her off and worded it beautifully and she took it all in with great understanding and maturity.”
Speaking about the discovery, Sir David said: “To say it was a surprise to find out I had a daughter from years ago is an understatement.
“However, on settling with the news, I am delighted that I am now able to get to know Abi and so we meet up when we can.
“My wife, Gill, and daughter, Sophie, have been very supportive and understanding and have embraced Abi and welcomed her and her young son into her now wider family.”
Sir David and Gill, who he met on the set of A Bit of a Do in 1989, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony with just 50 guests at the Dorchester hotel on November 30, 2005. That was the eve of his investiture ceremony.
In 2000, he and Gill decided to start a family, when he turned 60 and she was aged 40. He wrote in his autobiography: “We were older than people conventionally are when they think about these things.
“The idea scared us a lot. We batted it back and forth.”
But “fate answered”, he added, and he became a father to Sophie in 2001 despite thinking his chance had “swept by” due to his workload.
Sir David's youngest Sophie has been adapting well to learning she has a big sister and a young nephew.
Sophie has offered to help decorate Abi’s Brighton home, and makes an effort to pop home from university when she and Charlie are visiting Sir David and Gill.
The Jason family are also enjoying having a young child in the family, with Abi's son Charlie being welcomed into the wider family.
Abi and Charlie spent the festive period with Sir David and his family, where they all played board games and the youngster was given a John Lewis Build Your Own Electronics Set as a Christmas present by him.
During visits, Sir David invites his grandson into his workshop. The pair repair items and he is introducing the boy to the world of model rockets which he launches on fine days.
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