I’m glad Keith Richards apologised to Mick Jagger – I also criticised older parents in the past and I’m not ashamed to say I was wrong

The grizzly guitarist was discussing the fact that last year Mick became a father for the eighth time, at the age of 73. I used to think that was far too old, but after hearing from some older dads I've reconsidered the issue

Keith doesn't usually apologise for his remarks about Mick, but these ones appear to have crossed the line (Getty Images)

Keith Richards has made a grovelling apology to Mick Jagger after shooting his mouth off to the Wall Street Journal. The grizzly guitarist was discussing the fact that last year Mick became a father for the eighth time, at the age of 73.

Keith could not resist commenting: “It’s time for the snip – you can’t be a father at that age. Those poor kids!”

Later, Richards tweeted: “I deeply regret the comments I made about Mick in the WSJ which were completely out of line… I have of course apologised to him in person.”

In the past, Keith has discussed Jagger’s “tiny todger” but he never thought that warranted an apology – the pair fall out on a regular basis, with Richards describing fitness fanatic Mick as “a nightmare”. Their relationship goes back longer than any of their marriages – and they’ve spent more time together than with any of their women – but does that permit you to tell the world your innermost thoughts?

I’ve got several male friends in their seventies who are proud doting dads – some are straight, some are gay, but what unites them is the sheer delight they get from spending as much time as possible with their children. These kids don’t know or care what age their dads are.

I’m not ashamed to say I was wrong to criticise old parents in the past and I’ve had to revise my opinion. Yes, I still think that older mums get more stick and are often written about as freaks, but modern kids need all the good parents they can get, and age shouldn’t be an issue.

I stand corrected – especially after being told off by older dad John Humphries a few years ago – and I’m glad that Keith has said sorry. Mick has never stooped to criticise Keith’s awful clothes or madcap behaviour that resulted in a serious head injury (when he fell out of a tree in the tropics). Bickering at that age is a bit embarrassing.