By Sara Nathan
Expecting: Rod Stewart and wife Penny Lancaster, seen here on holiday in France last month, are to become parents for the second time
At the age of 66, many men are embracing a quieter life and looking forward to spending time with their grandchildren.
Rod Stewart won't be one of them. The singer revealed yesterday that he is to become a father for the eighth time.
He and wife Penny Lancaster, 39, are delighted that another little Stewart is on the way at last.
Miss Lancaster suffered two miscarriages before the birth of their son Alastair, now four, and has made no secret of her desire to give him a little brother or sister.
Yesterday the couple said in a statement: 'We were thrilled and delighted to be able to tell Alastair that he was going to be the big brother to a little baby, expected just before Mummy's 40th birthday.'
Stewart's other children range in age from 15 to 46 - making the eldest, Sarah Streeter, seven years older than Miss Lancaster.
Sarah spent the first four years of her life in a children's home before being adopted, and has no relationship with her father.
Mum-to-be: Penny poses with her and Rod's son, four-year-old Alastair, and a young female relative at the Toy Story 3 premiere in London last month
Stewart and Miss Lancaster, who have been together for ten years, were celebrating their third wedding anniversary in Portofino, Italy, when they found out they were expecting another addition to Stewart's extensive brood.
They broke the news to Alastair while on holiday last week and are now back at home in Los Angeles.
A friend said: 'They are over the moon, they have wanted this for so long.
'Even though Rod has got his bus pass, you would not realise that he is the age he is. He definitely wears it well and says that he still feels young.'
Family man: Rod, pictured in 2005 with wife Penny and children, from left, Kimberly and Sean, from his first marriage to Alana Stewart, and Renee and Liam, from his relationship with Rachel Hunter
Adding to the brood: Ruby Stewart, now 23, pictured here in 2007, whom he had with girlfriend Kelly Emberg
The baby is due in February, soon after Stewart's 66th birthday on January 10. Miss Lancaster will celebrate her 40th birthday on March 15.
The model turned photographer, who has had treatment for pre-cancerous cells on her cervix, has spoken frankly of her struggle to conceive. Last year, she admitted: 'I think Rod's touring and running around interferes with things, but we still have high hopes.'
And her rock star husband revealed recently that he wasn't anxious about being an older father, saying: 'As a parent of a new child, I'll maybe only be around for 25 years at most. But it will be a happy, loving 25 years.
'You get children born into a family who have 25 miserable years. What's the point in that?
source: dailymail