Television favourite Declan Donnelly has delivered a heartfelt and candid reflection on his life as a father, describing it as the greatest achievement of his life and expressing a poignant regret that he did not start his family sooner.
The Ultimate Reward: Fatherhood Trumps Showbiz Success
The 50-year-old presenter, one half of the iconic duo Ant & Dec, shares two young children with his wife, Ali Astall: seven-year-old daughter Isla and three-year-old son Jack. Appearing alongside his lifelong friend and co-host Ant McPartlin on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Dec did not hold back in his praise for parenthood.
He declared that his children are "the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me," adding that all of his professional accolades pale in comparison. "Everything we've ever achieved in our career, does not hold a candle to being a dad. It is my favourite thing in the world," he confessed.
Donnelly revealed a significant personal regret, stating he wishes he had embarked on the journey of fatherhood at least a decade earlier. "I wish I had done it 10 years earlier, if not more because I love it so much... Honest to god, I wish I had done it far earlier and had tons more," he said.
A New Focus on Health and Longevity
Now having turned 50, the Geordie star explained that his entire mindset has shifted towards ensuring he is present and healthy for his children as they grow. He admitted to finding parenting both challenging and hard, but ultimately the most rewarding experience.
"My mindframe now is I just want to be around for as long as I possibly can to grow up with these guys," Dec explained. His goal is to remain fit enough to "lift them up, even when they're 25 and they don't want to be lifted up." This powerful statement underscores a newfound priority on health and longevity over his bustling entertainment career.
Candid Confessions on Mental Health and Anxiety
In the same wide-ranging conversation, Donnelly opened up about his ongoing struggles with mental wellbeing, contrasting his approach with Ant McPartlin's disciplined work on sobriety. He admitted he needs to "work harder" at managing his mental health.
Dec described living with a "low level, constant anxiety" and a persistent feeling that he should always be doing something productive, which prevents him from relaxing. "I never feel I can sit down and just watch telly, I always feel like I should be doing something else," he shared.
He praised the benefits of therapy, which he underwent five or six years ago, and revealed the podcast chat had inspired him to return to it. He also highlighted the value of vocalising his thoughts, often to Ant, noting that saying worries out loud can instantly reveal them to be irrational. "Sometimes I'd be just sat in a room opposite my guy and you say something out loud... and you go, 'That is ridiculous. What I’ve just said is ridiculous'," he said.
A New Chapter: Ant & Dec's Podcast Venture
This appearance on Happy Place marked the pair's first ever podcast interview together. It comes as they prepare to launch their own podcast series, titled Hanging Out With Ant & Dec.
The duo explained that the new venture was born from a desire to carve out dedicated time for each other amidst their busy lives as fathers. The series promises to be unscripted, with no set agenda, simply featuring the two friends catching up and reflecting on their decades-long partnership in the spotlight.
Through his honest disclosures, Declan Donnelly has painted a relatable picture of modern fatherhood—a journey filled with immense love, personal regret, and a conscious effort to prioritise family and mental health above all else.
