Dec Donnelly 'takes godfather role seriously' as he supports new dad Ant McPartlin and plans play dates
As Ant McPartlin embraces life as a devoted new dad to baby Wilder, he’s relying on best pal Declan Donnelly for support - and the pair are already planning play dates!
The award-winning presenters, who first bonded on the set of nineties classic kids TV show Byker Grove, have been inseparable for the last 35 years. And as Ant now enjoys the happiest time of his life, there’s already a new “little Ant and Dec” pairing in the making.
The 48-year-old presenter announced on his and Dec’s joint social media account last week that his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, had given birth on 14 May to Wilder Patrick McPartlin, a very welcome little brother for Anne-Marie’s daughters, Poppy and Daisy.
The new dad and stepdad - who wrote, “Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!” alongside the gorgeous black-and-white photo of him and Wilder - has already reportedly given Dec, also 48, the important role of godfather to his son, cementing their bond even further.
“Dec is obviously so excited for Ant and has already been giving him advice - mainly how to deal with sleepless nights,” a source tells OK!. “He can’t wait to take on the role of godfather and he’s promised to take his duties very seriously.”
Our source said Ant, who was previously married to makeup artist Lisa Armstrong, “always” planned to make Dec godfather to any biological children he might have - and Dec’s son, Jack, has Anthony as a middle name - in a nod to daddy’s best pal.
Dec, who described Ant in his best man’s speech at his 2021 wedding to Anne-Marie as the “best friend a man could have”, has two children with his wife Ali Astall, a four-year-old daughter called Isla and little flame-haired Jack, who turns two in July.
Our source says the two youngsters are thrilled to have a new playmate in the McPartlin-Donnelly gang, and that their parents are already planning joint summer holidays to their neighbouring holiday homes in Portugal.
“Wilder will practically be like a nephew to Dec, and he and Ant are excited for their boys to grow up together as there’s less than two years between Wilder and Dec’s son Jack - they want them to become as close as they are,” our source says.
“Also, Dec’s little girl Isla loves babies and is very pleased there is another baby around. They’re planning lots of playdates and family holidays – they’re all hoping to spend most of the summer in Portugal as they always do and are all excited for Wilder’s first holiday. Dec has also joked that Ant and Anne-Marie won’t need to spend a fortune on clothes ,as they can have all of Jack’s hand-me-downs!”
After first bonding over their love of Newcastle United FC (and actually enjoying their first friend-date at St James’ Park on Boxing Day 1990, to watch their side draw 1-1 against Swindon Town), the duo have released songs, acted together, hosted shows, been next-door-neighbours, best men at each other’s weddings, and now - dad pals.
They’ve also endured - and come out stronger - more than one rocky patch in their personal lives. When Ant sought treatment for prescription drug addiction in 2017, Dec stood by him, and firmly remained by his side after his drink-driving arrest the following year.
He held the I’m A Celebrity fort for that year’s series, after Ant announced “having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.” While it might have broken some friendships, theirs emerged out the other side largely unscathed, and for the last few years, they’ve been back at the top on the likes of Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway.
Our source says that Dec focuses on what his friend has overcome in life - and is incredibly excited for the next chapter of their friendship, now they’re both doting parents. “He’s proud of how Ant has bounced back from all of his issues and is delighted for him and Anne-Marie, he knows fatherhood will be the making of Ant,” they tell us.
“It will also strengthen their bond as although Ant is a stepdad to Daisy and Poppy, they’ll be able to share experiences of having little children and all things like first day at nursery and school and just watching their children grow up together.
“It’s time for both of them for their careers to take a back seat as they concentrate fully on family life. Although, Dec says that Ant has an added bonus, as they’ve already got two live-in babysitters with Anne-Marie’s daughters!”
