David Harbour reveals heartwarming first impression of wife Lily Allen's daughters after previously saying he didn't want to have children

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David Harbour has revealed he immediately fell in love with Lily Allen's two children  on their first meeting - even though he had never wanted kids.

The Stranger Things star, 49, was introduced to Ethel and Marnie over breakfast at The Wolseley in London's Mayfair and admitted he was 'scared' about the meeting.

However, the actor confessed he was won over by the 'innocent' faces and felt an instant need to care and look after the girls, then seven and six.

Lily co-parents her two daughters with their father and her ex-husband, builder Sam Cooper, who she split from in 2015 after admitting to being unfaithful.

David and Lily met in 2019 and were engaged the following year, before tying the knot in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony. 

During an appearance on the Miss Me? podcast, hosted by Lily and Miquita Oliver, David also opened up about why felt she was the one and went on to marry her.

Asked how he liked the role of being a stepdad, David said: 'I love it. It is truly the most surprising thing and enjoyable thing I've ever done. I never wanted kids.

'Like I've been through the ringer in a lot of ways in my life, and also genetically, I'm the last boy in my family, so the Harbour name will die with me. I kind of like that. I've a real fetish about like 'let's end this blood line so the genealogy stops'.

'And also I've lived sort of an artistic, in my mind child-like life, running around doing things and following my impulse a lot. It doesn't really mesh well with children.

'And I think that I was very against having kids. And then I met Lily and we dated for a little bit, and I remember there was a day when she said 'I want you to meet the kids'. And I was ready, we were at that stage where we were in love and all that stuff.

'I met the kids - we went to the Wolseley - she brought the kids there and I remember her saying something to the kids like 'this guy might be a big part of our lives'.

'And I think Marnie said later on that she thought I was going to be her new assistant. And I kind of am.

'But I do remember meeting the kids and having breakfast with the kids and being scared.

'And then almost immediately like falling in love with them - like in love with them - and feeling that thing that people talk about when they have kids like 'Wow, I want to take care of you beyond myself and I would do anything for you, give you anything'.

'There was just an immediate sort of love that I had for them so that was so unique.

'Just their innocent little faces looking up at you, just confused, they were like six and seven at the time.

'And that really pushed me over the edge. I was like 'Wow, this is something so rare - that this is like a family, kind of a pre-made family'.

'I don't have to have the kids myself, they don't have to carry my name. I can just help these people grow up and give them Starbucks and Taylor Swift merch.'

Asked what led them to get married, he added: 'It was kind of like out of nowhere.

'I guess what happened was that I was in love with her but then we had some conversations where I realised she saw me in a very different way than anyone else has seen me.

'And she really wanted me to be who I wanted to be. And I think that's very rare in a relationship.

'I think that people get into relationships and there winds up being a lot of control or a lot of sacrifice. I think it's rare to have someone go 'I see these things in you and I understand that they're important to you and I want you to do that'.

'There is something that love can be very possessive, and I think with her it isn't. It's very genuine.

'I was like 'Woah, I've got to keep that near me'. Put a ring on it.#