Acting legend David Jason has admitted that he found being in the limelight of fame “difficult to cope with”. The 85-year-old Only Fools and Horses star shared that he always wanted to “lead as normal a life as possible” with his family – his wife, Gill Hinchcliffe and daughter, Sophie Mae Jason.

Speaking to Daily Mail back in 2020, the actor said: “We tend to be quiet and homey. I’ve never been a fan of going to parties or red carpet events. I’ll always love doing my job, but the fame side is difficult to cope with. So we keep our heads down and lead as normal a life as possible, and I think that’s rubbed off on Sophie. We should be proud of her, really. She’s a good girl. She loves horses and has a little job at the local stables.

“It’s menial stuff – clearing up what the horses leave behind – and she comes home with an aroma which isn’t as nice as when she goes out with her boyfriend. But I’m delighted she’s buckling down and has this job, starting at the bottom.”

Sir David and Gill met on the set of the comedy drama A Bit Of A Do. His wife was location manager back in 1989 and the pair started off as friends. A more intimate relationship began after David’s partner of 18 years, Myfanwy Talog, died of cancer in 1995.

They welcomed Sophie into the world together in 2001, when he was 61 and she 41. Reflecting on this with the Telegraph, he said: “I suppose the thing that you miss, perhaps, is being able to do all the things a younger father would do with their child. But Sophie is lovely – when she was a baby and a small child, she was so funny, it was sheer delight.”

David also has another daughter – although he was not aware of it for 52 years. Abi Harris was born in 1970 following David’s brief relationship with actress Jennifer Hill. It was believed that her dad was actor Geoffrey Davion.

However, after the actor and Abi graced the stage together in 2008, unaware of their relationship, she started to suspect that the actor could be her father due their similarly shaped noses and his history with her mother.

As a result, David agreed to take a paternity test back in 2023 and it was revealed that he was, in fact, Abi’s real father. In a statement at the time, he shared: “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.”