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Declan Donnelly’s journey to fatherhood and family life with daughter Isla and wife Ali Astall

He is one proud papa!

Declan Donnelly became a first-time dad to his daughter almost four years ago.

But exactly how old is she now? And who is Dec’s wife?

Here’s all you need to know about Declan Donnelly and his family…

When did Declan Donnelly become a dad?

Dec became a dad in 2018. The entertainer and one part of dynamic duo Ant & Dec welcomed a baby girl on September 1st, 2018.

This makes his daughter almost four years old.

Read more: Ant McPartlin reveals romantic Christmas proposal

declan donnelly with the mother of his daughter ari astall
Declan Donnelly with his wife and mother of his daughter Ari Astall (Credit: SplashNews)

What did Declan Donnelly call his daughter?

Dec and his wife, Ali Astall, called their daughter Isla Elizabeth Anne.

The I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! host announced on Instagram: “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. Mother and daughter both doing well, Dad is head over heels! D x.”

What has Dec said about fatherhood?

Dec has spoken regularly about how much he loves being a dad.

Now 46, he became a first-time dad at 42.

Read more: Ant and Dec apologise for shouting at children on SMTV Live

In his book with Ant, Once Upon A Tyne, he writes that fatherhood ‘transformed’ him.

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Dec with Ant on I’m A Celebrity last year (Credit: ITV)

Dec writes: “Becoming a dad has completely transformed me.

“At first, like all expectant parents, I didn’t truly understand how much it was going to change me.

“I just thought it was another little person coming to live in the house…It opened up a whole other side to me, a side I didn’t know existed.

“I felt a love that I didn’t realise it was possible to feel. Everything I do, every day, is for my daughter now.”

What’s more, just last year Dec admitted to the Evening Standard that fatherhood was hard work.

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Declan says fatherhood is surprisingly hard (Credit: SplashNews)

And surprisingly more so than he’d initially bargained for.

He said: “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.”

Who is Dec married to?

Dec married talent manager Ali Astall in 2015.

In fact, she is the manager to both Ant & Dec.

Poster

They reportedly began dating in late 2013, only for Dec to propose the following year.

She is Australian, and believed to be around 43.

Her job also involves helping to manage the likes of Fearne Cotton to Holly Willoughby.

Dec told The Express that they were friends for years before they began dating.

The host said: “When she was single and I was single we’d go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day together.

“Last year we went out as a couple. It was a little strange because we’ve had a working relationship for so long.”

Dec’s second baby arrives

Dec remained mum on whether he and Ali planned to have more children but on July 24, 2022 they announced the arrival of a baby son Jack.

What do you think? Let us know on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor