David Jason's life changes forever after 'the most astonishing letter'

Sir David Jason has opened up about the overwhelming emotions he experienced upon receiving "the most astonishing letter" from the daughter he was unaware of for over half a century.

The beloved actor recounted his shaky hands and the rollercoaster of feelings, ranging from "wonder and amazement, through anxiety and heartache, to fear and outright panic", on discovering the possibility of having a daughter whose existence had been unknown to him for 52 years.

It was previously disclosed by The Mirror how the television icon had united with Abi Hill and his newfound grandson Charlie following a DNA test that verified his paternity of a second child with the late actress Jennifer Hill.

READ MORE: Murder accused denies being gunman who shot man dead in 'execution style killing'

In his forthcoming memoir 'This Time Next Year', Jason delves into the poignant tale, expressing a deep regret for not being present in Abi's life earlier and mourning "the pang of sadness for those missing years, all that lost time".

The story unfolds from the start as David describes the initial contact from Abi in the form of a letter. With a nod to the Dylan Thomas play 'Under Milk Wood', the letter gently broached the subject: "To begin at the beginning, well actually, at my beginning. I wonder whether it has ever crossed your mind, as it has done with Mum and more recently with me, that you might be my biological father? ", reports the Mirror.

Reading these words in the sanctuary of his kitchen, the legendary actor, famed for his role as Del Boy in 'Only Fools and Horses', was struck by an indescribable shock at the contents of the handwritten letter.

Abi disclosed her "paternity is uncertain" and, without seeking financial support, asked David if he would consent "to take an anonymous paternity test so that I can finally know the truth and let the matter rest".

David recounts his shock: "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."

He admits his surprise at the possibility: "I have to say it really hadn't crossed my mind that Abi Hill 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."

Reflecting on the past, he says: "At no point in the nearly fifty years that had gone by since then had that thought had cause to enter my head."

After discussing the revelation with his wife Lady Gill, who was equally shocked, they both felt empathy for Abi's situation.

David expresses his decision: "So naturally I should agree to do the test," and shares his willingness to embrace Abi if the results were affirmative: "And if the test came back positive, then we should meet Abi and open our arms to her. I am so grateful that Gill was so supportive and understanding about it all."

The esteemed actor confirmed the paternity test was positive and described their first encounter in a London hotel.

"I've never experienced such a jumble of competing emotions. We were both feeling them. There was a lot of elation kind of, 'Can you believe it? ' and, 'What an amazing thing!.

"But there was an inevitable sense of distance too, and a pang of sadness for those missing years, all that lost time. So strange to feel this instant intimacy between the two of you, this obvious bond, and, at the same time, to be aware of this gap between you: so much common ground, and yet all that ground uncovered."

David also reflects on his relationship with his daughter Sophie, whom he shares with his wife Lady Gill: "I held Sophie straight after she was born, and I fed her and changed her and walked her to school and watched her grow, and all of those things."

"And that's what I think of when I think of Sophie being my daughter. But Abi and I, of course, never had that chance, which is sad in itself, and now here she was, entering my life for the first time, but as a grown woman."

"In those first minutes it was such a complicated thing to process, for us both."

Fortunately, David is now close with Abi and values the meetings with her and her son Charlie, who is David Jason's first grandchild.

During an interview with BBC Breakfast, he lightheartedly discussed Charlie's nickname: "I call him Charlie the hair, yeah. He's a good looking lad. Unfortunately, he's got a lot of hair.

"I'm not sure that he's quite as amused as I am, with calling him Charlie the hair, but he has, he's just got so much long hair, and I get jealous. I'm terrifically jealous of him, and it's all brown and everything, and mine's not brown, and there's very little of it.

"My wife has been a tremendous help in this direction, and she's been extremely supportive. Without that I don't think I could have managed, quite honestly.

"But because of Jill's reaction and her ability to understand, it's been a remarkable achievement on all our behalf. It's positive and it's the journey, not the arrival, and it's the fun of the journey."

"And that's just another part of life's rich pattern, or life's rich journey that it throws at you."

The autobiography also disclosed the sorrowful event of Abi's mother passing away last year shortly after the revelation of David being Abi's biological father. On this, he said: "I very much hope that she was relieved to know that Abi had finally learned the truth of her beginning and that Jenny could rest in peace," according to David.

Appreciative of his family's support, he conveyed: "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."

Sir David and Jennifer's romance blossomed in early 1970 when he was just 30 years old.

Their paths first crossed professionally in the production of Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood' at London's May Fair theatre, with David also featuring in the film adaptation of the celebrated play. In an unexpected twist, both were part of a 2008 revival of the same play, which included Abi creating a unique situation where the family members were involved in the same project, yet oblivious to their familial ties.

"Had we but known it," Sir David reflected.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he reminisced: "It was a girlfriend, and that part I never knew about it. I went off to work in the theatre, and the girlfriend went off to work in her theatre, and that was the end of it really."

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Sir David and Jennifer remained connected through their mutual friends. Abi was born in October 1970.

Abi and Sir David have encountered each other on numerous occasions over the years due to shared acquaintances, yet he was completely unaware of their blood connection.

Jennifer was wed to the renowned actor Geoffrey Davion, known for his roles in 'Miss Marple' and 'The Stars Look Down'. Abi grew up believing Geoffrey was her biological father until his passing in 1996.