Declan Donnelly

Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly (born 25 September 1975) is an English television presenter, television producer, comedian, former singer, rapper and actor. He is best known for working alongside Ant McPartlin as part of the presenting duo Ant & Dec.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Donnelly came to prominence, alongside McPartlin, in the children's drama series Byker Grove, with both men establishing successful careers as television presenters, in which they are most known for presenting SMTV Live (between 1998 and 2001), I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! alongside Ant McPartlin (2002–2017, 2019–) and Holly Willoughby (2018) and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002–2024), and Britain's Got Talent (since 2007).

Other notable highlights of Donnelly's career alongside McPartlin include presenting PokerFace, Push the Button, Pop Idol, and Red or Black?, being hosts of charity appeal Text Santa (between 2011 and 2014), and also performing as pop music duo PJ & Duncan.

Early life Donnelly is the child of parents Alphonsus Donnelly and Anne Donnelly, who originally resided in Desertmartin, Northern Ireland before moving to England in the 1950s, settling in Newcastle upon Tyne. He is among seven children the couple raised within the council estate of Cruddas Park.

Donnelly's education took place first at St Michael's Roman Catholic Primary School, and later at the all-boys St Cuthbert's High School, with him receiving 8 GCSEs. Although he eventually moved towards a career in television, he originally considered becoming a Catholic priest but changed his mind upon seeing the students from the all-girls Sacred Heart Catholic High School.

Career

Donnelly's career in television began at the age of 12, when his father suggested that he audition for Byker Grove, a new children's television programme being created by CBBC in Newcastle upon Tyne that had been advertised in local newspapers. His success in this audition led to him securing the role of Duncan, whereupon he first met Anthony McPartlin. Although he was raised in an estate close to Donnelly, McPartlin had never met him until their involvement in the children's drama. The pair worked together on the show until their eventual departure in 1993, whereupon they began to bond as friends, both socially and professionally.

After a short tenure in music, Donnelly and McPartlin furthered their careers in television by becoming the presenting duo Ant & Dec. Having already fronted Children's TV show 'The Ant and Dec show' on BBC1, which ran for 2 series, followed by a stint on Channel 4 with the edgier 'Ant & Dec Unzipped', The pair continued to work in children's television, fronting ITV's Saturday morning children's programme SMTV Live. After leaving the programme in 2001, the pair branched out to front other shows, including game shows – Friends Like These, PokerFace and Push the Button – talent shows – Pop Idol, and Britain's Got Talent – and entertainment programmes – I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. The pair continued to maintain acting careers, starring in a tribute to The Likely Lads in 2002, in the form of a remake of an episode from the show's sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, entitled "No Hiding Place", and in 2006 film Alien Autopsy.

Ant & Dec have their own production company Mitre Television where they produce their shows.

Personal life

On 22 July 2006, Donnelly was the best man for McPartlin's wedding to Lisa Armstrong. Donnelly reprised his role as McPartlin's best man when he married his second wife, Anne-Marie Corbett on 7 August 2021. In an 'emotional' speech on the special day, he described McPartlin as the "best friend a man could have" before reading a prayer in front of the guests attending.

In August 2011, Donnelly attended his father's funeral, after Alphonsus died in hospital of cancer.

On 13 November 2014, Donnelly became engaged to the duo's manager, Ali Astall, with whom he had been in a relationship for over a year, with the marriage taking place at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Elswick, Tyne and Wear, on 1 August 2015. The ceremony was conducted by his brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, a Catholic priest, with McPartlin as his best man. On 1 September 2018, after announcing earlier in the year that the couple were expecting their first child, Donnelly's wife gave birth to their daughter, Isla.

On 19 March 2018, after his colleague McPartlin's car crash, it was announced that Donnelly would be presenting the remaining episodes of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent on his own.

In November 2019, it was revealed that Dec is a distant cousin of the American professional wrestling promoter and businesswoman Dixie Carter. He is also related to footballer Aaron Donnelly. His elder brother Dermott died after a short illness on 8 July 2022 at age 55.

Donnelly has stated that he is a practising Roman Catholic but does not publicly discuss religion or his family in depth.

Charity

Donnelly and McPartlin are patrons of the charity Sunshine Fund. When their single "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble" reached No.1 in 2012, Ant & Dec donated the single's success to the charity ChildLine. They also support the Text Santa appeal.

Donnelly also supports the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle's Youth Ministry Team, directed by one of his older brothers, Dermott Donnelly, former dean of St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle. They opened the W4 Youth Centre in 2013.

Earnings

In 2002, Ant & Dec signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, worth £2m.

In 2004, they signed their third golden handcuffs deal with ITV, running until the end of 2007.

In April 2007, the duo signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, reportedly worth £30–40 million, securing their career at the station until the end of 2009.

In 2009, they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years. In 2011, they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years.

In November 2016, the pair signed a new three-year deal with ITV, estimated to be worth £30 million over 3 years.

Honours and awards Donnelly was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and entertainment.

The following listed below are the television awards that Donnelly has been nominated for or awarded with, primarily while working alongside Anthony McPartlin as Ant & Dec:

1994 Brit Award Nomination – Best Song: "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble"

1995 Brit Award Nomination – British Breakthrough Royal Television Society Awards- The Ant and Dec Show

1996 British Academy Children's Awards: Children's Entertainment Show (The Ant and Dec Show)

1997 Nominated – British Academy Children's Awards: Children's Entertainment Show (The Ant and Dec Show)

1998 British Academy Children's Awards: Children's Entertainment Show (Ant and Dec Unzipped)

2000 British Academy Children's Awards: Children's Entertainment Show (SMTV Live) TV Choice Awards: Best Children's Show (SMTV Live) Royal Television Society Awards: Best Children's Entertainment Programme (SMTV Live) TV Hits Awards: Best Teen Show (CD:UK) Loaded Carling Good Work Fellas Awards: Best Double Act British Comedy Awards: The People's Choice (SMTV Live)

2001 TV Choice Awards: Best Children's Show (SMTV Live) Broadcast Awards: Best Children's Programme (SMTV Live) Royal Television Society Awards : Best Television Presenters Disney Channel Awards: Kids Awards (The Ant and Dec Show) Nominated – British Academy Children's Awards: Best Children's Entertainment Show (SMTV Live)

2002 Nominated – British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (Pop Idol) British Academy Children's Awards: Children's Entertainment Show (SMTV Live)

2005 Nominated – British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!)

2006 British Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Entertainment Personality British Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Entertainment Programme

2007 Nominated – British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway)

2008 TV Quick & TV Choice Awards: Best Entertainment Show (Saturday Night Takeaway) Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards 2008: Favourite Funny Person, Best TV presenters and Best Family TV show (Britain's Got Talent)

2009 TV Quick & TV Choice Awards: Best Entertainment Show (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) TV Quick & TV Choice Awards:Outstanding Contribution Award Nominated – British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!)

2010 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!) British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Britain's Got Talent)

2012 Freesat: Best TV Presenter(s)

2013 TRIC Awards: TV Personality of the Year TRIC Awards: TRIC Special Award (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!) RTS Awards: Entertainment Performance (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!) Nominated – British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!)

2014 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway)

2015 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway)

2017 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) British Academy Television Awards: Live Event (The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration)

2018 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Britain's Got Talent)

2019 Guinness World Records: Most NTA's for Best Presenter won consecutively at 18 British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Programme (Britain's Got Talent) British Academy Television Awards: Reality And Constructed Factual Programme (I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!)

National Television Awards

Filmography

Television

Film Year Title Role 2003 Love Actually Himself 2006 Alien Autopsy Ray Santilli 2013 One Chance Himself (archive footage)

Television advertisements Year Title Role 2000 Wispa Bite Himself2001 Ambrosia Splat Himself, voice only Woolworths Himself 2002 McDonald's Himself, voice only 2008 Sainsbury's Himself 2010–2011 Nintendo Wii & DS 2013–2015 Morrisons 2016–2018 Suzuki 2019–2020 Marks & Spencer 2019–present Santander Bank

Apps An official Saturday Night Takeaway app known as Studio Rush launched on 30 January 2013 but has been removed. An official I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! app launched on 9 November 2015.