The Britain’s Got Talent judge has moved on from the romance as he is now happily married to Ali Astall
Declan Donnelly is renowned for his role as a presenter on Britain’s Got Talent(Image: Getty Images)
Britain’s Got Talent’s Declan Donnelly will return to our screens on Saturday night for another episode of the hit talent show. The 49-year-old has been joined by his presenting partner, Ant McPartlin, as the search for the the country’s next superstar continues.
Ant and Dec have hosted the show since it premiered in 2007. The two remain as passionate about the show as ever as Dec admitted he is amazed by the innovative new acts each season.
He told the One Show: “Every year we turn up on the first day and we go, ‘Are we going to see anything? Is there anything left? Is there anything different?’ Every year we are surprised and we love it.”
The hosts have confirmed they are taking more time away from their presenting careers this year. They usually follow up Britain’s Got Talent with a new season of Saturday Night Takeaway.
However, Ant & Dec have halted Saturday Night Takeaway after its 20th season as it seemed like the “perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath”.
On the last show in 2024, Dec said: “When we started this back in 2002, we thought we’d be lucky if we got to do this for maybe a couple of years, so what’s happened has honestly been beyond our wildest dreams. We have truly adored every second of making the show, but there’s one thing we’ve never ever forgotten, and that’s the fact it’s not our show it’s your show.
“So we’d like to say a massive thank you to you, our incredible audience.” Ant and Dec are now excited for the future and to enjoy some time away from the screens with their families once the latest season of Britain’s Got Talent concludes.
Away from the screen, Dec is married to Ali Astall and they are the proud parents of two children. They started dating in 2014 but had enjoyed a close friendship for many years previously as Ali worked as Dec’s manager.
Previously, Dec was involved in two high profile romances with Grange Hill star, Claire Buckfield, from 1993 – 2003 and sports broadcaster, Georgie Thompson, from 2009 – 2011.
Georgie shot to stardom as a presenter on Sky Sports News and addressed her “painful” split from Dec in 2011. A spokesperson for Dec confirmed the split as they said: “Dec and Georgie’s relationship has sadly come to an end. Nobody else was involved and they remain good friends.”
At the time, Georgie spoke to our sister site, The Mirror, at a pre Wimbledon party in 2011 about the break-up as she said: “At the moment, the party line is that we’re really good friends and really support each other.
“But it’s been tough, it’s really tough. It’s a really hard thing to live out a painful break-up when you’re in the public eye. It hurts but we have to be grown-up.”
The two have moved on as Georgie is now married to Olympian Sir Ben Ainslie and they are the parents to two children. Dec has also moved on with Ali and he welcomed his first child into the world in 2018 when his daughter, Isla, was born.
Ben Ainslie and Georgie Thompson have been married since 2014(Image: PA)
His baby son was born in 2022 and was named in tribute to his best friend, Ant, and his late dad, Alphonsus McPartlin, who died aged 78 in 2011. Announcing the news on Instagram, he said: “Shortly before 10am yesterday, 23.7.2022, Ali and I welcomed the arrival of our son, Jack Anthony Alphonsus, a very welcome ray of light. He is wonderful and Isla is beyond excited to be a big sister!”
Fans were in tears when they realised the sweet name tribute. Chelsi said: “Anyone realise Dec named him after Ant? Anthony? I’m gonna cry.” Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday at 7pm on ITV