Blimey! Victoria Coren Mitchell has had a second baby at 51

[Sidebeforeself]

Congratulations to her. I caught up with OC last night and thought she looked pregnant but dismissed it when i remembered she’s around my age. Then i saw the announcement today. I’m knackered just thinking about it!

I like them. Lovely news, though rather her than me. Looking forward to the name reveal...what goes well with Barbara??

I didn't even know it was possible to carry a baby at this age?! Crikey.

I now feel that I had my kids young!

June Violet apparently.

They've named her June violet

June Violet

Oh too slow!

Don't know who she is but pity the kid when he's 21 having a mother old enough to be his granny.

Hope she's sorted out all legal matters for him (will, who will take care of him etc.).

Wow!!!
I can't even imagine this. All the best to her.

Wow! I’m 55 and find it exhausting having a young teen. They will be mid 60s with a teen - good luck to them 😱

Wow! Congrats to them, love VC and David Mitchell.

The baby is a girl and will be fine.

Congratulations to both of them.

Of course some women are fertile at 51, and that's why contraception should be continued until 1 year after your last period, or age 55. The barbed comments about older mothers are unnecessary, although I do hope she's given up smoking.

Good for her. I got some Durham history records today (not my family) but these two mothers were certainly churning out the babies - 20 sons -amazing number. I suppose you might even start at 14 or 16 in the 1700s UK in those days and go up from there.

• 29 Apr 1798 Hannah Stanley, born 20 Apr 1798, 15th daughter, 21st child of Joseph Stanley (gunsmith, native of Great Barr, Staffordshire) by his wife Diana Riley (native of this parish)
• 2 Mar 1800 Patrick Mullen, born 14 Feb 1800, 20th son of Patrick Mullen (invalid, native of Ireland) by his wife Ann late Drummond formerly Carr (native of Ireland)

I don’t see any barbed comments about older mothers here? It’s a fact that its unusual and harder work when you are older thats all

never heard of the woman, but this was my first thought too. I had an aunt get pregnant at 51 - total accident. She decided against an abortion, but was well aware of the risks to herself and her child. Very luckily, they both survived the actual birth in good health, but predictably he became motherless in his teens.

I think they're both ruddy marvellous and hope they're v happy indeed.

I met DM at a talk he gave last month and we had a lovely chat about standardised spellings.

I can assure you this child of two well-off, intelligent, educated, highly successful parents will not be requiring your pity.

Very happy for them. No one else’s business if they think it’s too old. I think they’re intelligent enough to have thought it through.

My gt Gran had one at 50 (poor babe died in the Spanish flu at a few months old) and her very last at 52, she lived until he was an adult. She'd started her family at 15. I'm sure that this baby will be OK, there are much worse things in life than being born to wealthy older parents,

That’s impressive, I didn’t know she was pregnant.

I’d like to point out I didn’t start this thread to judge older parents. I was just surprised given my thoughts when I watched OC last night. I wish them all well!

Yeah - odd that David is only a couple of years younger than VCM and no one is commenting on his age.

Congratulations to them both.

She hosted a really good HIGNFY only a couple of weeks ago, I don’t think her imminent arrival was mentioned then.

Good point.