Search icon

Celebrity

01st Feb 2019

Dec Donnelly on why being a dad is ‘the hardest thing’ he has ever done

Keeley Ryan

Declan Donnelly joked that parenthood should “come with a warning” as he explains how it is the “hardest thing” he has ever done.

The TV presenter and his wife, Ali Astall, welcomed their first child – a little girl named Isla – late last year.

He told The Evening Standard

“No one tells you how hard being a parent is.

“We could have had a warning! It is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m loving it.”

Dec’s presenting partner, Ant McPartlin, also recently spoke about how happy his pal has been since he became a dad late last year.

He told The Sun:

“She’s beautiful little thing. I’m thrilled for the pair of them. They’ve wanted to be parents for a long time. The whole world of showbiz was overjoyed for them. I know how much it means to him.

“I’ve tried to get Dec to bring Isla to work every day on Britain’s Got Talent. He’s like, ‘I can’t bring her to work, I’ve got a job to do.’ But I’ve twisted his arm.”

Dec and Ali announced their arrival through Ant and Dec’s joint social media accounts on September 1.

Dec made the announcement on the joint Twitter account that he shares with presenting partner Ant McPartlin.

He said:

“Ali and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our baby girl, Isla Elizabeth Anne, who was born just after 9 o’clock this morning.”

He added that both the mum and newborn daughter were doing well, and that “dad is head over heels”

Fans rushed to congratulate the couple after they shared the happy news.