Singer, 40, expecting third child

Cerys Matthews is releasing her third solo album in October

Singer-songwriter and radio presenter Cerys Matthews is pregnant with her third child at the age of 40.

The Welsh former Catatonia frontwoman is expecting the baby in January with her 49-year-old partner and manager Steve Abbott.

Her spokeswoman said the singer, who is also a BBC 6 Music presenter, was "very happy" and that she and Mr Abbott were "delighted with the news".

She is releasing a solo album in October, and going on an 11-date tour.

Don't Look Down will be released in both English and Welsh language versions to coincide with a tour which begins on 17 October in the Mwldan Theatre, Cardigan, Ceredigion.

The album is Matthews' third solo release following Cock a Hoop and Never Said Goodbye.

It has been reported in the Mirror that the couple, who have been dating last year, discovered they were expecting four months ago but kept it a secret because they were worried there might be complications.

Matthews, who was born in Cardiff but who grew up in Swansea and Fishguard, has two children with her former husband Seth Riddle, an American music producer.

She presents a daily show on 6 Music between 1300-1600 BST.

The singer first found fame in the late 1990s with Catatonia, whose hits included Mulder and Scully and Road Rage.

Not only did the band catch the tail of the Britpop phenomenon, but Matthews became one of the faces of "Cool Cymru", alongside other Welsh bands such as Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics. She was even named the Coolest Person in Rock by Melody Maker.

She was off the radar for a while after the band folded, releasing some solo records, marrying Seth Riddle, moving to Tennessee and giving birth to their two children.

But she made a somewhat unexpected reappearance in ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Here! in 2007, and found herself on the tabloid front pages thanks to her relationship with fellow contestant Marc Bannerman, the former EastEnders actor.