Declan Donnelly

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Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly (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.

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is among seven children the couple raised within the council estate of Cruddas Park.<ref name="Father Death">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="FindArticles">THE IoS PROFILE: Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly; Likely lad Template:Dead link Archived from The Independent (London)</ref> 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.<ref name="CatholicLife">Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Template:Main 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.<ref name="Guardian2005">Template:Cite news</ref> The pair worked together on the show until their eventual departure in 1993, whereupon they began to bond as friends, both socially and professionally.

File:Ant and Dec in Cardiff Bay.jpg
Donnelly (right) with Ant McPartlin (left) in 2014

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in 2006 film Alien Autopsy.

Ant & Dec have their own production company Mitre Television where they produce their shows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

On 22 July 2006, Donnelly was the best man for McPartlin's wedding to Lisa Armstrong.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In August 2011, Donnelly attended his father's funeral, after Alphonsus died in hospital of cancer.<ref name="Father Death" />

Donnelly dated actress Clare Buckfield for ten years between 1993 and 2003, and television presenter Georgie Thompson from January 2009 until April 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>"Dec and Georgie Thompson announce split" 22 April 2011, RTÉ.ie Template:Webarchive</ref>

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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In November 2019, it was revealed that Dec is a distant cousin of the American professional wrestling promoter and businesswoman Dixie Carter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is also related to footballer Aaron Donnelly.<ref name="relatve">Template:Cite news</ref> His elder brother Dermott died after a short illness on 8 July 2022 at age 55.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Donnelly has stated that he is a practising Roman Catholic but does not publicly discuss religion or his family in depth.<ref name="Guardian2005"/><ref name="CatholicLife"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charity

File:Britains Got Talent Dec (6745457881).jpg
Donnelly in January 2012

Donnelly and McPartlin are patrons of the charity Sunshine Fund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They also support the Text Santa appeal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="CatholicLife"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They opened the W4 Youth Centre in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Earnings

In 2002, Ant & Dec signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, worth £2m.<ref name="Golden handcuffs 2002">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2004 they signed their third golden handcuffs deal with ITV, running until the end of 2007.<ref name="Golden handcuffs 2004">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="Kings of Saturday night">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ITV until 2009">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2009 they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years.<ref name="Golden handcuffs 2009">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2011 they extended their golden handcuffs deal for two years.<ref name="Handcuffs 2011">Template:Cite news</ref>

In November 2016 the pair signed a new three-year deal with ITV, estimated to be worth £30 million over 3 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

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:

Template:Col-beginTemplate:Col 2 1994

  • Brit Award Nomination – Best Song: "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1995

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

1996

1997

1998

2000

2001

2002

2005

2006

Template:Col-2 2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

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

2015

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

2019

  • Guinness World Records: Most NTA's for Best Presenter won consecutively at 18<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 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!)

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National Television Awards

Year Award Show
2001 Most Popular Entertainment Presenter
2002 Most Popular Entertainment Presenter
Most Popular Entertainment Programme Pop Idol
Special Recognition Award
2003<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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<ref name="digitalspy.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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

Television

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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
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

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 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

References

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