The Who rocker Roger Daltrey is surprised his wife HEATHER is still with him - because he fathered four illegitimate children during their 32-year marriage.

The KIDS ARE ALRIGHT rocker, 59, is the father of eight children, but he admits half of them arrived during his wild groupie-groping days.

He says, "How she's put up with me I don't know, but that's the way it's succeeded. She's an incredible woman.

"I never lied to her. You're in one of the biggest rock bands in the world, you're going on tour for eight weeks and you're in a sweet shop - they're throwing sweets at you. I couldn't seriously come home and say, 'I've been a good boy darling,' because it doesn't happen like that."

Of his huge collection of offspring he explains, "I have one by a previous wife, one by a previous girlfriend, and four turned up when I was over the age of 50 - one, incredibly, on my 50th birthday.

"It's been wonderful. They've all had wonderful lives. I didn't know they existed. It's fantastic because they all get on very well."

29/06/2003 20:58