Dec Donnelly reveals he felt 'hurt' Ant McPartlin kept his struggles hidden
He took a year out of the spotlight to recover
Ant and Dec have opened up about their 30-year friendship ahead of their new documentary, Ant And Dec's DNA Journey. The pair, who first met starring as PJ and Duncan in Byker Grove at the age of 13, have been presenting together for years, and have won the National Television Award for the UK's favourite presenter 18 years on the trot.
However, things haven't been smooth sailing for the pair - as was well-documented, Ant McPartlin struggled with addiction issues, leading to a drink driving arrest and a year out of the spotlight.
But after some time out of the spotlight and a rehab stint, Ant is back and will be presenting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! with Dec Donnelly once again when it returns later this month.
The Geordie boys have now spoken out ahead of their documentary, candidly discussing how they thought their careers would be over after Ant's problems. Ant said, "Our friendship has been tested and we have come through the other end. And I will be forever grateful and thankful for the love we have.
"I thought the public had had enough. I just thought I wouldn’t be allowed to do what I love anymore, which was a very sad affair. But, you know, coming back and just being back on screen and the affection and love and support that people have shown, has been quite overwhelming and very emotional. I can’t thank people enough."
In the documentary itself, Dec opened up about the impact that Ant's struggles has had on him - something he's not really done since it happened, "It has been a tough couple of years and it has tested the bond we have shared since we were 13 years old."
Admitting he'd been really 'hurt' by his friend, Dec continued, "I was incredibly angry at the start, so angry. Disappointed that he didn’t ever come to me and say, 'I am struggling, I need you', because that is what I would do if the shoe was on the other foot. He never came to me and that hurt me a lot."
He also revealed that he thought it might have finished their careers, "There was a point where I thought that that was it. There were times where I wasn’t sure it was going to survive. Times where you didn’t know it needed to survive or you wanted it to survive."
Scroll through to see Ant and Dec's complete career timeline through the years...
Ant & Dec in Byker Grove: 1989
In 1989, Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – and thus, PJ and Duncan was born.
Ant & Dec's friendship blossomed: 1990
Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.
He said, "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."
When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine, "We made a pact. We said to each other, 'Look, whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and you're never in this life on your own or against the world – you've always got a mate looking out for you."
Dec said, "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground" as Ant added, "We love each other, definitely."
Ant and Dec's children's TV shows: 1994
Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.
Ant and Dec's pop career: 1994
It wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 'Let's Get Ready to Rhumble'. After the pair performed it on Saturday Night Takeaway, the song went to Number 1 in March 2013.
Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.
Ant and Dec on SMTV: 1998
This kicked off their kids' TV careers, and landed them their first BAFTA Awards.
After various other presenting gigs, Ant & Dec started hosting ITV's Saturday morning shows SMTV and CD:UK, alongside Cat Deeley, in 1998.
Ant and Dec on Pop Idol: 2001
But, in 2001, they made the move from Saturday morning to prime time – for a little show called Pop Idol... They presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.
Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: 2002
This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which has since had 18 series, with series 19 airing in February 2023.
Ant and Dec on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!: 2002
In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show. In 2018, Ant decided not to host the show, and This Morning's Holly Willoughby stepped in to present with Dec.
Ant and Dec in Love Actually: 2003
Ant and Dec had become such huge names in the UK in 2003, that director Richard Curtis invited them to have cameos in Love Actually, where they cautiously interview Bill Nighy's character, Billy Mack who hilariously calls Dec 'Ant or Dec'.
Ant and Dec on Britain's Got Talent: 2006
Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million and have been hosting the show ever since.
The boys have presented the hit show ever since, with a brand new series starting in April 2024.
Ant marries Lisa Armstrong: 2006
Ant married his long-term girlfriend Lisa Armstrong in 2006, with Dec acting as best man. Sadly, the marriage ended in 2018.
Dec marries Ali Astall: 2015
In 2015, Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall with Ant acting as best man - of course. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Isla in September 2018.
Ant and Dec awarded OBEs: 2017
Ant and Dec were awarded OBEs in the 2017 Queen's honours for services to broadcasting and entertainment at Buckingham Palace. They said, "We're humbled and honoured and ecstatic about the whole thing. We hope it can inspire young people from backgrounds like ours that things like this do happen to us sometimes. Put your head down and work hard and you can achieve what you want. You can end up in Buckingham Palace."
Ant's addiction struggles: 2017
In 2015, Ant was prescribed painkillers for botched surgery on his knee. Over the next two years, he became dependent on the drugs and on alcohol. In 2017, he entered rehab to deal with his addictions, and returned to work in the November.
However, in March 2018, he was involved in a three-car road collision which involved a young family. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and pleaded guilty in court in April. He was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months, and stepped down from his TV duties in August 2018, returning in January 2019.
Ant and Dec's National Television Awards record: 2019
Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Best Presenter for 18 years running. They were also awarded a Guinness World Record for the most wins of the award in January 2019.
Ant and Dec's DNA Journey: 2019
Ant & Dec took us on an emotional rollercoaster with their genealogy show, Ant & Dec's DNA Journey. The two-parter saw the Geordie boys go back in time to discover all about their families - and even ended up being distantly related to each other!
I'm A Celebrity in Wales: 2020
Despite the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, Ant and Dec were able to present the 2020 series of I'm A Celebrity from Gwrych Castle in North Wales!
The boys returned in November for the 2021 series.
Ant marries Anne-Marie Corbett: 2021
Ant married his former PA Anne-Marie Corbett at St Michael's Church in Heckfield in Hampshire on Saturday 7th August, surrounded by their close family and friends.
In May 2024, Ant and Anne-Marie welcomed their first child together, a baby boy called Wilder Patrick.
The duo announce a new children's book
In November 2021, Ant and Dec announced that they had written a children's book titled 'Propa Happy'. The book will be published on 26th May 2022 with all proceeds going to the NSPCC.
Published by Farshore, the book is described as a fun-filled guide to feeling good for children aged 7+, packed with games, jokes, anecdotes, challenges and quizzes to make kids smile.
Ant & Dec's Limitless Win
In January 2022, the boys launched their brand new game show Limitless Win. The game featured the world's first ever limitless jackpot, as well as a money ladder that never ends! The show returned in early 2023.
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway wins at the 2022 BAFTA TV Awards
On 8th May 2022, Ant and Dec secured another win under their belts as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway won the Entertainment Programme category.
Ant & Dec win NTA for 21st time
Despite not being able to attend to 2022 National Television Awards due to having COVID-19, Ant and Dec once again won the award for Best Presenter, making it 21 years in a row!
I'm A Celeb returns to Australia
After a two-year break from filming in Australia due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Ant and Dec returned to the jungle on Sunday 6th November for the 2022 series of I'm A Celeb. The 2023 series returned on 19th November 2023.
I'm A Celeb: South Africa
After years of rumours, Ant and Dec finally revealed in 2022 that they'd filmed an All Stars series of I'm A Celeb, called I'm A Celeb: South Africa! The boys filmed the series in 2022, with the show airing on ITV in April 2023.
It's now been announced the show will not return for another series.
Ant and Dec announce update for Saturday Night Takeaway
In May 2023, Ant and Dec announced the 2024 series of Saturday Night Takeaway would be their last for a while. The duo told fans that the show takes up a lot of their year and they want to 'give it a little rest'.
Ant and Dec confirm they are rebooting Byker Grove
Byker Grove fans were over the moon in July 2023 when the pair announced plans to reboot the hit series! Acting as Executive Producers for the rebooted Byker, the pair confirmed the show will 'engage with a new generation of teenagers navigating the different challenges faced by young adults today'.
Ant & Dec win NTA for 22nd year in a row
Keeping up tradition, Ant and Dec were once again crowned the winners in the Best Presenter category at the 2023 National Television Awards, making it 22 years in a row. The pair attended the ceremony and thanked fans in their acceptance speech.
Ant & Dec sign off from Saturday Night Takeaway after 20 series
Ant & Dec finished Saturday Night Takeaway on the 13th April 2024 for the last time. They were joined by many special guests, including Girls Aloud and McFly.
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