Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly OBE (born 25 September 1975) is a British television presenter, television producer, former singer, rapper, comedian and actor. He is best known for working alongside Ant McPartlin as part of the presenting duo Ant & Dec.
Declan Donnelly | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Donnelly in 2014 | |
| Born | Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly 25 September 1975 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Education | St Michael's Roman Catholic Primary School St Cuthbert's High School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse |
Ali Astall (m. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | officialantanddec |
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
editDonnelly 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.[2] He is among seven children the couple raised within the council estate of Cruddas Park.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
Career
editDonnelly'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.[6] 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.[7] 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",[8] and in 2006 film Alien Autopsy.
Ant & Dec have their own production company Mitre Television where they produce their shows.[9]
Personal life
editOn 22 July 2006, Donnelly was the best man for McPartlin's wedding to Lisa Armstrong.[10]
Donnelly reprised his role as McPartlin's best man when he married his new 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.[11]
In August 2011, Donnelly attended his father's funeral, after Alphonsus died in hospital of cancer.[3]
Donnelly dated actress Clare Buckfield for ten years between 1993 and 2003, and television presenter Georgie Thompson from January 2009 until April 2011.[12][13]
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,[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
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.[17] He is also related to footballer Aaron Donnelly.[18] His elder brother Dermott died after a short illness on 8 July 2022 at age 55.[19]
Donnelly has stated that he is a practising Roman Catholic but does not publicly discuss religion or his family in depth.[6][5]
On 23 July 2022, Donnelly and Astall welcomed their second child, a boy, Jack. In a 'sweet' gesture, the couple gave their son middle names 'Anthony' and 'Alphonsus' in honour of Donnelly's best friend McPartlin and late father respectively.[20]
Charity
editDonnelly 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.[5][21][22] They opened the W4 Youth Centre in 2013.[23]
Earnings
editIn 2002, Ant & Dec signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, worth £2m.[24]
In 2004 they signed their third golden handcuffs deal with ITV, running until the end of 2007.[25]
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.[26][27]
In 2009 they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years.[28] In 2011 they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years.[29]
In November 2016 the pair signed a new three-year deal with ITV, estimated to be worth £30 million over 3 years.[30]
Honours and awards
editDonnelly was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and entertainment.[31]
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:
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1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
2000
2001
2002
2005
2006
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2007
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2017
2018
2019
|
National Television Awards
edit| Year | Award | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| 2002 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Pop Idol | |
| Special Recognition Award | ||
| 2003[38] | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | |
| Most Popular Reality Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2004 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | |
| 2005 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| 2006[39] | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Quiz Programme | Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon | |
| 2007 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | |
| Most Popular Reality Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2008[40] | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| 2010 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | |
| 2011 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2012 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Reality Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2013 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2014 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| Landmark Award | ||
| 2015 | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2016 | Most Popular Entertainment Programme | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! |
| Most Popular TV Presenter | ||
| 2017 | Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway |
| Most Popular TV Presenter | ||
| Challenge Show | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| 2018 | The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway |
| Challenge Show | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! | |
| Most Popular TV Presenter | ||
| 2019 | The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! |
| Most Popular TV Presenter | ||
| 2020 | The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! |
| Most Popular TV Presenter | ||
| 2021 | The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award | I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! |
| Most Popular TV Presenter |
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1993, 2000 | Byker Grove | Duncan | |
| 1994 | Gimme 5 | Guest co-presenter | |
| 1995–1997 | The Ant & Dec Show | Co-presenter | |
| The Big Breakfast | |||
| 1997 | Ant and Dec's Geordie Christmas[41] | ||
| 1998 | Ant & Dec Unzipped | ||
| 1998–2001 | SMTV Live | Alongside Cat Deeley and Ant McPartlin | |
| CD:UK | |||
| 1999–2001 | Friends Like These | Alongside Ant McPartlin | |
| 2001 | Slap Bang with Ant & Dec | ||
| 2001–2003 | Pop Idol | ||
| 2001, 2015–2016 | Brit Awards | ||
| 2002 | A Tribute to the Likely Lads | Himself | |
| Prezzemolo | Prezzemolo (voice) | ||
| 2002–2004 | Engie Benjy | Engie Benjy (voice) | |
| 2002–2009, 2013–2018, 2020–2024 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway |
Co-Presenter |
|
| 2002– | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Alongside Ant McPartlin (2002–2017, 2019–), Holly Willoughby (2018) | |
| 2005 | Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon | ||
| 2006 | A History of Tyneside | ||
| 2006–2007 | PokerFace | ||
| 2006, 2008 | Soccer Aid | ||
| 2007– | Britain's Got Talent | ||
| 2008 | Wanna Bet? | ||
| 2009 | Ant & Dec's Christmas Show | ||
| 2010–2011 | Ant & Dec's Push the Button | ||
| 2011–2012 | Red or Black? | ||
| 2011–2014 | Text Santa | ||
| 2016 | When Ant and Dec Met The Prince: 40 Years of The Prince's Trust | ||
| The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration | |||
| 2019 | Britain's Got Talent: The Champions | ||
| Ant & Dec's DNA Journey | Himself | ||
| 2022– | Limitless Win | Co-Presenter | |
| 2023 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Behind the Scenes | ||
| I'm a Celebrity... South Africa | Co–presenter | Alongside Anthony McPartlin (2023) |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Love, Actually | Himself |
| 2006 | Alien Autopsy | Ray Santilli |
| 2013 | One Chance | Himself (archive footage) |
Television advertisements
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Wispa Bite | Himself |
| 2001 | 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
edit- 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.
References
edit- ^ "Declan Donnelly". Desert Island Discs. 29 December 2013. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ Whelan, Dave (20 January 2014). "BGT's Declan Donnelly gets mum on the phone to savour Irish music in Belfast's Duke of York pub". The Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Dec leads mourners at dad's funeral". Evening Chronicle. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
- ^ THE IoS PROFILE: Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly; Likely lad [dead link] Archived from The Independent (London)
- ^ a b c Jones, David (August 2013). "Declan Donnelly: TV presenter and brother of a Catholic priest". Catholic Life. pp. 62–64.
- ^ a b "The boys next door". The Guardian. 10 September 2005.
- ^ "digitalspy". Digital Spy. 3 September 2020.
- ^ Gallagher, William (12 May 2002). "Ant and Dec's likeable lads". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "BFI Article on Mitre". Archived from the original on 25 March 2018.
- ^ Metcalfe, Will (1 August 2015). "Dec's wedding: Best man Ant McPartlin pays tribute to 'amazing' bride after 'emotional' ceremony". nechronicle. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Mike; Knight, Lewis (8 August 2021). "Dec gives emotional best man speech at Ant McPartlin's wedding". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Hardie, Beth (21 January 2009). "Declan Donnelly dating Sky Sports presenter Georgie Thompson". mirror. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Dec and Georgie Thompson announce split" 22 April 2011, RTÉ.ie Archived 30 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Declan Donnelly engaged to Ali Astall". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Declan Donnelly marries agent Ali Astall in Newcastle". BBC News. 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Declan Donnelly and wife Ali Astall welcome baby girl". BBC News. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ Pearce, Tilly (10 November 2019). "Declan Donnelly discovers he's related to wrestling icon Dixie Carter". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (1 April 2023). "Port Vale defender Aaron Donnelly confirms unlikely Ant & Dec connection". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Father Dermott Donnelly: Declan Donnelly's brother dies after illness". BBC News. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Declan Donnelly announces birth of baby boy – with the perfect middle name". Sky News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Cathedral Life — Clergy and Staff: Father Dermott Donnelly". stmaryscathedral.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Youth Village Opening". ymt.org. July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Ant & Dec Get Back on Home Turf – News – Official Ant & Dec". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ Deans, Jason (21 October 2002). "Ant and Dec sign two-year ITV deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Deans, Jason (24 September 2004). "Ant and Dec slip on ITV's golden handcuffs". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Gibson, Owen (18 April 2007). "Kings of Saturday night TV scoop £30m jackpot". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (17 April 2007). "Ant and Dec at ITV until 2009". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Deans, Jason (5 November 2009). "Ant and Dec sign two-year ITV deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Conlan, Tara (9 November 2011). "Ant and Dec extend 'golden handcuffs' deal with ITV". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (14 November 2016). "Ant and Dec sign £30m 'golden handcuffs' deal with ITV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ "No. 61608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B13.
- ^ "h2g2 – Ant and Dec – British Television Presenters". BBC. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ "British Comedy Awards 2006: The Winners – TV News". Digital Spy. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Television – News – British Comedy Awards 2006: The Winners. Digital Spy (13 December 2006). Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ "Ant and Dec top children's awards". BBC News. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Ant and Dec's Award Surprise. Sky UK. 8 August 2009
- ^ Emma Powell (24 January 2019). "Ant and Dec smash Guinness World Record with 18th NTAs win | London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ "Ant and Dec win trio of TV awards". BBC News. 15 October 2002. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "National TV Awards 2006: Full winners list – TV News". Digital Spy. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ "National Television Awards: The Winners – TV News". Digital Spy. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ "Ant and Dec's Geordie Christmas (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
External links
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