The couple have been together for four years

Jason, 61, is enjoying his first time as a dad by looking after his daughter with his partner and not employing a nanny.

"We've got lots of family support and she's such a good baby and sleeps really well," said Ms Hinchcliffe.

Jason has become one of the nation's most-loved stars after entertaining television viewers as Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses and Jack Frost in A Touch Of Frost.

The couple wanted to thank fans for their good wishes since Sophie was born at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, on 26 February, weighing 9lbs 6oz.

Romance

Jason and his partner issued the photographs in the hope that their privacy, and that of their daughter, will be respected in future.

Jason began a relationship with Ms Hinchcliffe, 41, four years ago, following the death from breast cancer of his partner of 20 years, Myfanwy Talog, aged 45.

The couple first met in 1989 when Ms Hinchcliffe became a production assistant with Yorkshire Television.

Jason has never married and, when asked in the past about the possibility of becoming a father, used to say he was too intolerant and did not want children.

He once also described marriage as "like throwing yourself into a river when you only wanted a drink of water".