Declan Donnelly ‘takes on special role’ after birth of Ant McPartlin’s baby-Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

Ant gave Dec a special honour following the birth of his son (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Television personality Ant McPartlin excitedly announced the birth of his first child yesterday – and he’s ensured Declan Donnelly is a central part of this new life phase.

Ant’s wife Anne Marie, 46, gave birth to Wilder Patrick McPartlin early Tuesday, eliciting an outpouring of well-wishes from fans and friends alike.

The delighted new father, 48, took to Instagram to express his excitement at becoming a parent at this stage in his life. ‘Welcome to the family. Wilder Patrick McPartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54am,’ he captioned a tender snapshot cradling his newborn.

He continued: ‘Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!’

In the wake of the big moment, insiders revealed to The Sun that Ant had bestowed the honor of godfather upon his longtime pal and television partner, Declan Donnelly, also 48.

Dec’s role as godparent to Wilder serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring friendship between the two television icons. Ant is also reportedly the godfather of Dec’s children.

The TV host shared a sweet photo of him holding his newborn (Picture: Instagram)

Ant & Dec have become British television royalty over the years, as inseperable off screen as they are onscreen. They first met as child actors on CBBC’s drama Byker Grove, soon going on to perform together as a pop duo called PJ & Duncan, the names of their characters from the show.

Since then, the two have become some of the most recognisable TV presenters in history. They currently host I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent, and Limitless Win. They were also previously known for Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway which ran from 2002 to 2024.

The pair were a cultural staple as the hosts of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock)

Anne-Marie, who gave birth at the prestigious London Clinic, was reported to be in good health following the delivery, which took place just before 9 am.

The middle name of the child, Patrick, holds sentimental value, serving as a touching tribute to Anne-Marie’s late father, Paddy.

Ant and Anne-Marie’s journey to parenthood has been eagerly followed by fans, with news of the pregnancy first breaking in February.

Ant and Anne-Marie have been married since 2021 (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Ant’s transition into fatherhood has been marked by his deepening bond with Anne-Marie’s daughters from a previous marriage, Poppy and Daisy.

His commitment to family is evident in his Instagram post, where he proudly displays a tattoo of a family tree featuring his step daughter’s names.

When the pregnancy was first announced, a source told The Sun: ‘This is the news everyone wanted. Ant and Anne-Marie are beyond delighted.

‘It’s no secret that Ant has always wanted children, but that it may never happen for him was something he had, sadly, come to terms with.

Ant and Dec appeared at this years BAFTAs, where they were nominated for Saturday Night Takeaway (Picture: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shut)

‘When they found out last year, they were absolutely delighted, but obviously kept the news quiet for as long as possible.’

Ant and Anne-Marie’s happiness comes in the wake of Ant’s well-publicized divorce from his former wife, Lisa Armstrong, who reportedly got £31million of Ant’s £50m fortune in the split.

Ant and his ex wife had tried to have children, but the couple were reportedly never able to get pregnant.

Now, Lisa has taken to Instagram with a post that some are speculating reveals her true feelings about Ant’s big news.

Ant’s ex wife Lisa Armstrong posted a cryptic Instagram in the wake of her ex husband’s baby news (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Be proud of how you’ve been handling these past few months,’ her Instagram Story read.

It continued: ‘The silent battles you’ve fought, the moments you had to humble yourself, the times you’ve wiped your own tears. Celebrate your strength.’

When Anne-Marie – who was formerly the presenter’s assistant – and Ant first became an item, Lisa claimed to be blindsided by the news, saying she only found out about the relationship via the media.

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