George and Amal Clooney announce birth of twins Ella and Alexander

George Clooney has become a first-time father at the age of 56, as his wife Amal gives birth to twins.

A spokesman for the couple confirmed that the Clooneys have welcomed their newborns into the world, naming them Ella and Alexander.

In a statement, a representative said: "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. "

Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine.”

He joked: "George is sedated and should recover in a few days."

George and Amal Clooney

The twins had been expected any day now, with Clooney declining an invitation to accept a humanitarian award overseas a week ago. 

“I really would have been [in Armenia] but if I came there and my wife had twins while I was there, I could never come home,” Clooney said in an acceptance video.

Once Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor, he has previously spoken about his delight in becoming a father saying: “I didn't know that we'd have kids. I was very happy that we were going to get married and then [children] seemed like the next step.”

The couple's Grade II-listed home in Sonning, Berkshire, has recently undergone drastic renovations, including the construction of a 12-seater cinema and an astroturf tennis court.

Mr and Mrs Clooney

People, the US magazine, claimed the couple were visited by friend Barack Obama, the former President, at the end of May, while he was in England.

The news that Clooney was to become a father was finally confirmed after much speculation earlier this year by his friend Matt Damon, who told a talk show he was so thrilled for the high-profile couple that he "almost started crying" when he found out.

Damon disclosed that Clooney told him the news while they were filming, and that his wife Amal, 39, was about eight weeks pregnant at the time.

The Clooneys in Venice, the day after their wedding

"I'm like, 'Are you out of your mind? Don't tell anybody else, don't tell anybody else, I mean, don't you know the 12-week rule?' Of course he doesn't," Damon said, laughing.

Damon praised Mrs Clooney, an international human rights lawyer, calling her "a remarkable woman" and saying George Clooney had "hit the jackpot."

He added the couple were "going to be awesome parents, those kids are lucky."

It is understood the new Clooney family of four will be based in the UK, where Mrs Clooney works