Declan Donnelly
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Early Life and Education
Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly was born on September 25, 1975, in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. He is one of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters. Donnelly was raised in a Roman Catholic household and attended St. Cuthbert’s High School, an all-boys Catholic school. During his youth, he briefly considered becoming a Catholic priest, a path he ultimately did not pursue.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 25 Sep, 1975
- Age
- 44 yrs
- Citizenship
- United Kingdom
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- Birth Place
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- residence
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Education
- St. Cuthbert's High School
- Gender
- Male
- Description
- English television presenter, producer and actor
- Net Worth 2020
- 62 million
- Net Worth 2021
- 40 million
Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Donnelly’s television career began at the age of 12 when he successfully auditioned for the CBBC teen drama Byker Grove. It was on this show that he met Anthony McPartlin, marking the beginning of their long-standing professional partnership. Together, they formed the duo known as Ant & Dec, which would go on to become one of the most recognizable presenting teams on British television.
Their chemistry and charisma helped them transition from acting to presenting, leading to a string of successful hosting roles. In 2004, a BBC poll ranked them as the eighteenth most influential people in British culture, highlighting their impact on the entertainment industry.
Ant & Dec: Television Success
Declan Donnelly has co-hosted numerous popular television programs alongside McPartlin, including Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol, PokerFace, Wanna Bet?, and Text Santa. Their work together has garnered critical acclaim and earned them a dedicated fan base.
In 2007, Ant & Dec signed a significant contract with ITV, reported to be worth £30 million over two and a half years, further cementing their status as mainstays in British prime-time television.
Personal Life
On August 1, 2015, Declan Donnelly married Ali Astall, who had served as the duo’s longtime talent manager. The wedding took place at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Elswick, Tyne and Wear, and was officiated by his brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, a Roman Catholic priest. The couple welcomed their daughter, Isla Elizabeth Anne Donnelly, in September 2018.
