Gary Barlow mourns stillborn daughter

Pop star Gary Barlow and his wife were today mourning the loss of their baby daughter.

In a statement issued through his agent, the couple said their baby, Poppy, was delivered stillborn in London on Saturday.

Barlow's wife Dawn was eight months pregnant. On 5 July, Barlow tweeted that Poppy was due to be born in seven weeks' time.

In last night's statement, Barlow said: "Dawn and I are devastated to announce that we've lost our baby. Poppy Barlow was delivered stillborn on 4 August in London.

"Our focus now is giving her a beautiful funeral and loving our three children with all our hearts. We'd ask at this painful time that our privacy be respected."

The 41-year-old singer had previously spoken about how he was looking forward to becoming a father for the fourth time with his wife, a 42-year-old dancer.

Speaking at the time, he told fans: "We are a very excited family."

The Take That star and X-Factor judge announced in February that his wife was expecting another child.

In April, Barlow, already a father to Daniel, Emily and Daisy, wrote on Twitter: "There's gonna be another girl in the Barlow household!"

He was recently asked by a fan on the website how Dawn was, and replied: "gr8 tanx, 7 weeks to go."

In June he was crowned celebrity dad of the year.

Friends and colleagues of the singer expressed their condolences to the Barlow family on Twitter.

Fellow X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos wrote: "My thoughts & prayers are with GBarlowOfficial and wife dawn tonight. Heartbreaking x."

Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote: "Dearest Dawn & Gary, Madeleine & I are devastated about news of Poppy. Our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family. GBarlowOfficial."

A message from boy band JLS, who found fame on X Factor, read: "We send our condolences to GBarlowOfficial and his family during this tough time..our thoughts and prayers with you..Marv and the boys x"

Amelia Lily, who appeared on last year's series - Barlow's first as a judge - wrote: "Sending all my love out to GBarlowOfficial and family xxx".

Una Healy from girl group The Saturdays, who recently became a mother for the first time, wrote: "My thoughts and prayers go out to GBarlowOfficial and his wife and family such sad news RIP Poppy x."