Ant McPartlin, a television star, enthusiastically announced the birth of his first child yesterday, and he has made Declan Donnelly a major part of this new chapter in his life.
Ant’s wife, Anne Marie, 46, gave birth to Wilder Patrick McPartlin early Tuesday, prompting an outpouring of congratulations 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 Wilder’s godparent is a touching reminder of the two television icons’ long-standing friendship. Ant is also said to be the godfather of Dec’s children.
Ant and Dec have become British television aristocracy over the years, as inseparable off-screen as they are on-screen. They met as child performers on CBBC’s drama Byker Grove and later formed a pop duo named PJ & Duncan, after their characters from the show.
Since then, the two have become some of the most well-known television presenters in history. They presently host the show I am a Celebrity.Get Me Outta Here!, Britain’s Got Talent, and Limitless Win. They were also formerly known for Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, which aired from 2002 to 2024.
Anne-Marie, who gave birth at the famous London Clinic, was said to be in good health after the delivery, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m.
The child’s middle name, Patrick, is meaningful since it pays tribute to Anne-Marie’s late father, Paddy.
Ant and Anne-Marie’s journey to motherhood has been closely watched by fans, with the pregnancy originally revealed in February.
Ant’s transition into fatherhood has been distinguished by a growing closeness with Anne-Marie’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Poppy and Daisy.
His dedication to family is clear in his Instagram image, where he proudly shows a tattoo of a family tree with his stepdaughters’ 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.
‘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 follows Ant’s highly publicised divorce from his ex-wife, Lisa Armstrong, who reportedly received £31 million of Ant’s £50 million wealth in the split.
Ant and his ex-wife attempted to have children, but they were apparently unable to become pregnant.
Now, Lisa has resorted to Instagram with a message that some believe indicates her actual views about Ant’s big news.
‘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.
