Sir David Jason has revealed plans for a family Christmas that will include his daughter Abi Harris, whom he only discovered last year at the age of 84. 

The Only Fools and Horses icon learned about Abi’s existence after a paternity test confirmed she was his child from a brief relationship with James Bond actress Jennifer Hill in 1970. 

Speaking to The Mirror about their relationship, Sir David admitted the initial shock of finding Abi is now easing as they get to know each other. 

‘The shock of the news that I had an undiscovered daughter is wearing off,’ he said, ‘We are slowly getting to know each other, and things are working out on this voyage of discovery.’

Sir David recently celebrated Abi’s birthday with a Sunday lunch at his home, where they marked the occasion with cake and gifts, including a copy of his new book. 

Sir David Jason has revealed plans for a family Christmas that will include his daughter Abi Harris, whom he only discovered last year at the age of 84

The Only Fools and Horses icon learned about Abi’s existence after a paternity test confirmed she was his child from a brief relationship with James Bond actress Jennifer Hill in 1970

‘For whatever reason out of our control, our lives have only just come together, and so it does feel poignant celebrating birthdays after so many years of not being able to share,’ he said.

The actor also spoke of his hopes to bond with his grandson Charlie, who he has nicknamed ‘Charlie the hair’ for his enviable locks. 

‘I am also trying to get him interested in model making as I think it’s great for youngsters (or any age) to be able to absorb themselves in something quiet and creative in this hectic world and doesn’t involve a battery or a plug.’

Sir David reflected on the ‘pang of sadness’ over missing out on Abi’s earlier years, but says he remains optimistic about building a connection. 

Plans are in place for more family time over Christmas and a small celebration for his 85th birthday in February.

When he discovered the ‘most astonishing letter’ letter, David sat down in his kitchen and recalled how his hands shook as he started reading it.

David said he felt ‘wonder and amazement, through anxiety and heartache, to fear and outright panic’, when he knew the possibility that he had a second daughter.

In the letter, Abi wanted David to take an anonymous paternity test because she was uncertain – but insisted she didn’t want any financial support.

Promoting his new memoir This Time Next Year, David admitted the initial shock of finding Abi is now easing as they get to know each other (pictured in October 2024)

Abi is the daughter of actress Jennifer Hill – who starred in James Bond film Octopussy – after her mother and David had a brief relationship was born in 1970 (Jennifer pictured)

David credits his wife Gill Hinchcliffe, whom he shares a daughter Sophie with, for being ‘so supportive and understanding’ about it all, despite the shock they were both in

In The Mirror’s exclusive look at his new book, he says: ‘You will be unsurprised to learn that my hands were shaking by now. What had I just read? I had to go back and read the whole thing again. And then I had to read it again. And then again after that.

‘I have to say it really hadn’t crossed my mind that Abi Harris was my daughter – that my relationship with Jennifer Hill while we were in that production of Under Milk Wood in 1970 could have produced a child without me knowing about it.

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‘At no point in the nearly fifty years that had gone by since then had that thought had cause to enter my head.’

David credits his wife Gill Hinchcliffe, whom he shares a daughter Sophie with, for being ‘so supportive and understanding’ about it all, despite the shock they were both in.

When he met Abi for the first time, David said they both felt an ‘inevitable sense of distance’ due to the lost time they had.

David added that it was ‘such a complicated thing to process, for us both’, after their first encounter.

Abi says while she had no idea who her father was – she had her suspicions after hearing about Jason’s relationship with her mother while they both starred in a stage adaptation of the Dylan Thomas radio play Under Milk Wood in 1970.

Her belief grew stronger after realising she shared the same shaped nose as him, and her parentage has now been confirmed.

David was knighted for his services to acting and comedy in 2005. He married Ms Hinchcliffe in November of that year.

He started dating Gill after his long-term partner of 20 years, Welsh actress Myfanwy Talog, died from breast cancer aged 45 in 1995.

The TV star believed he became a father for the first time at the age of 61, and after Sophie was was born he said it had been ‘thrust upon him’ as most of his life was focused only on being a success.

He previously said: ‘My life has been in reverse. It wasn’t fame and it wasn’t money, but I always wanted to succeed. The only way I could do that was to try with every job to be better than I was in the last one, and to learn.

‘Because of that I needed to be footloose and fancy free.’