I’ve had a surrogate baby! Gay radio tycoon emails staff his happy news

HE Is already the most powerful voice in commercial radio at the tender age of 37. Now, music mogul Ashley tabor has welcomed an even bigger noise into his burgeoning media empire.

tabor ( left), whose Global Radio empire encompasses radio stations Capital Xtra and Classic FM, has recently become a father for the first time — to baby boy Leo — in not entirely usual circumstances.

For openly gay Ashley, son of racing tycoon Michael tabor, the former East End bookmaker worth nearly £600 million, opted for a surrogate to achieve his ambition of becoming a father.

And, as a single man, Ashley is planning to raise the tot himself.

the news was, unusually, announced to staff at Global in an email from the company’s chief executive, stephen Miron. ‘those of you who know Ashley will know that he believes one of the most important things in life is to always be true to yourself, and to be confident enough to share things so that rumour and gossip are kept to a minimum,’ he wrote.

‘As a single gay man, he’s obviously had to explore various options to become a father — something he’s very much wanted to do for some time — and he opted for surrogacy.’

It’s a surprising development for tabor, hitherto known for discovering pop acts Corinne Bailey Rae and the Wanted.

His New Year’s Eve party at sunset Reef, the sumptuous family home in Barbados, is an annual draw for the island’s mega- rich regulars such as simon Cowell and topshop boss sir Philip Green.

In 2012, guests were treated to a performance by Bajan pop star Rihanna for a reported £1 million fee.

two years ago, he faced awkward questions over his company’s tax affairs, when it was reported that Global Radio had not paid corporation tax for five years after sending more than £200 million offshore.

A spokesman would not disclose yesterday where the surrogacy took place.

While commercial surrogacy is commonplace in the U.s., it is only legal in the UK if the mother is not paid, barring ‘reasonable’ expenses.