Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne confirmed he has secretly fathered a son with wife Celina Bassili during an appearance in London over the weekend.
The actor, who is set to reprise his best known role in a forthcoming Christmas special, is said to have welcomed the child with set designer Bassili shortly after their wedding in September 2021.
In pictures obtained by The Sun, Horne, 45, is seen pushing an empty buggy while his wife cradles the infant as they make the most of the bank holiday weekend weather.
Close friends, among them Gavin & Stacey co-stars James Corden and Joanna Page, are understood to be aware of the birth – which was not made public by the couple at the time.
A source told The Sun: ‘Mathew is a brilliant dad and he and Celina love being parents.
Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne confirmed he has secretly fathered a son with wife Celina Bassili during an appearance in London over the weekend (pictured here on May 7)
The actor is said to have welcomed the child with set designer Bassili shortly after their wedding in September 2021 (pictured)
‘Celina’s brother has a son who is a similar age and they loved spending time together.
‘Mathew also kept the news quiet because he prefers to live his life out of the spotlight, even though he’s a household name thanks to Gavin & Stacey.
‘All his Gavin & Stacey co-stars know about him being a dad, including James Corden and Joanna Page.
‘They all have kids so you can imagine the talk on set for the Christmas special is going to centre a lot on their kids.’
Horne travelled to Bassili’s native Norway for their wedding ceremony in 2021, with the couple tying the knot in the 15-acre grounds of a 1930s mansion.
The actor was first seen kissing the set designer during a night out in Wales two years earlier, while they were busy filming the last Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
Bassili, who graduated from University Of Arts London with a first class degree in set design, lists the Gavin & Stacey special on her online CV.
With the kiss, he appeared to confirm his relationship was over with Casualty actress Evelyn Hoskins, who he proposed to in October.
A spokesperson later told MailOnline: ‘Mathew and Evelyn separated amicably in October 2018.’
Mathew was first seen kissing set designer Celina in a Burger King in 2019, which confirmed the end of his nine-month engagement to actress Evelyn Hoskins (pictured)
James Corden and Ruth Jones have written the last ever episode of Gavin And Stacey, set to air on Christmas Day
The BBC is reportedly set to treat Gavin & Stacey fans with a double helping of the show this Christmas
In addition to the grand finale, BBC bosses have commissioned a special behind-the-scenes documentary which will look at the programme’s 17-year history
The BBC is reportedly set to treat Gavin & Stacey fans with a double helping of the show this Christmas.
Earlier this month, the sitcom’s stars Corden, 45, and Ruth Jones, 57, announced that it was returning for one last episode.
And in addition to the grand finale, BBC bosses have commissioned a special behind-the-scenes documentary which will look at the programme’s 17-year history.
Cameras have been following the cast, including titular stars Horne and Page as they film scenes for the last ever instalment.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘The Beeb view this as a momentous occasion and wanted to give Gavin & Stacey a suitably auspicious send-off.
‘The fact that the documentary will be made by Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by James and is a co-producer of the sitcom, means they’ll enjoy full access on set and get all the biggest chats.
‘It is likely to be made in tandem with the show itself, filming the creative process of delivering the finale from the first to the last day.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.
The critically acclaimed series follows the lives of the two titular characters Gavin from Essex and Stacey from South Wales, documenting key points in their long-distance relationship and events that bring the two families together