The age of the veteran dads

Des O’Connor, to be a dad again at 72, is following in the footsteps of other famous figures by embracing the challenges of fatherhood while others are anticipating, or enjoying, retirement.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney became a father again at 61 last October when his wife Heather Mills McCartney gave birth to Beatrice.

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti was 67 when girlfriend Nicoletta Mantovani had twins last year.

Daughter Alicia survived but sadly her brother Riccardo died during childbirth.

Actor David Jason experienced fatherhood for the first time at 61 when Sophie Mae was born three years ago.

Hollywood star Anthony Quinn fathered two children while in his 70s and James Doohan – otherwise known as Scotty from Star Trek – had a new baby daughter, Sarah, soon after his 80th birthday.

Screen legend Charlie Chaplin was 74 when he fathered the last of his 11 children, Christopher, in 1962.

Famous 50-60-year-olds in the fatherhood game have included Michael Douglas, who was 58 when Catherine Zeta Jones gave birth to their second child, Carys, and Eric Clapton, 57 when he became father to Julie Rose.

BBC Radio Today programme presenter John Humphrys became a father again at 56, three decades after his first family arrived, and rock legend David Bowie was 53 when he became a father for a second time four years ago.

Bowie assisted with the delivery by cutting the umbilical cord as wife and model Iman gave birth to Alexandria Zahra Jones.