Lee Mead "so happy" with fatherhood

Lee Mead has revealed that he is "so happy" and "very, very proud" after becoming a father for the first time.

The West End actor and partner Denise Van Outen welcomed the arrival of a baby girl earlier this month and called the child Betsy.

Speaking to The Mirror about his young daughter, Mead commented: "As soon as I leave the house I start missing her. It's an instant feeling. Obviously I have to go to work but it's very hard leaving her. She's still only days old, she's so new."

He continued: "Of course I'm going to be biased but I think she's lovely. She's just gorgeous. She's got her mum's eyes and mouth. And we've spotted a few little kinks going on in her hair, so I think she's got my curls.

"We both wanted quite a traditional name but one that wasn't particularly common. I think it's a sweet name, Betsy Mead has a nice ring to it. I'm just very, very proud. I'm conscious of waffling on like a talkative parent but we're just so happy."

Mead is currently appearing as Fiyero in a production of Wicked at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre.