Declan Donnelly, born September 25, 1975, in Newcastle upon Tyne, is a British television presenter who gained fame as a child actor on Byker Grove in 1987, where he formed his partnership with Anthony McPartlin. The duo, known as Ant & Dec, became prominent hosts of major television programs including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent, and Saturday Night Takeaway, earning multiple National Television Awards and establishing themselves as influential figures in British entertainment with extensive careers spanning decades.
Declan Donnelly, the renowned British television presenter and entertainer, has established himself as one of the most recognizable faces in UK broadcasting through his enduring partnership with Anthony McPartlin in the celebrated duo Ant & Dec. Born on 25 September 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, to parents Alphonsus and Anne Donnelly who originally hailed from Northern Ireland, Donnelly grew up as one of seven siblings in the Cruddas Park council estate, a working-class neighborhood that shaped his early experiences.
From humble beginnings in Newcastle’s Cruddas Park estate, Declan Donnelly rose to become Britain’s most beloved television presenter alongside Anthony McPartlin.
His educational journey began at St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School, followed by St Cuthbert’s High School, where he earned eight GCSEs, demonstrating academic competence that would later complement his entertainment career.
Donnelly’s professional trajectory started in 1987 when he gained initial fame as a child actor on the popular television series Byker Grove, where he performed alongside Anthony McPartlin, establishing the foundation for their decades-long partnership.
During his early career development, Donnelly briefly considered pursuing religious vocation as a Catholic priest before ultimately committing to television entertainment, a decision that proved pivotal for British broadcasting. His initial success expanded beyond acting through musical endeavors as part of the pop duo PJ & Duncan, which released recordings throughout the 1990s and provided additional creative outlet for the partnership.
The duo’s television hosting career encompasses numerous high-profile programs that have dominated British entertainment schedules for over two decades. Their major hosting credits include SMTV Live from 1998 to 2001, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! from 2002 to 2017 and 2019 to present, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway from 2002 to 2024, and Britain’s Got Talent since 2007. The duo has also taken on international ventures, including hosting I’m a Celebrity… South Africa since 2023, expanding their reach to global audiences.
Additional presenting roles have featured PokerFace, Push the Button, Pop Idol, and Red or Black?, alongside charity events including Text Santa from 2011 to 2014.
Recognition for their contributions has included multiple National Television Awards and Donnelly’s appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to broadcasting and entertainment, cementing their status among Britain’s most influential television personalities. Together with McPartlin, they co-founded the production company Mitre Television, expanding their influence beyond presenting into content creation and production.
In his personal life, Donnelly married Ali Astall in 2015 and became father to two children, while maintaining strong connections to his northern England heritage and participating in various philanthropic activities.
Recent developments include the 2023 announcement of a new Byker Grove version, demonstrating continued creative evolution and expansion into production roles that build upon their established entertainment legacy while maintaining their prominent position in contemporary British television.
