Dec Donnelly: Children, Net Worth, Brother’s Death, and Real Name

Anyone who’s watched a Saturday night telly marathon in the UK has probably seen Dec Donnelly grinning next to Ant McPartlin. But beyond the red carpet and the presenting gigs, there’s a quieter side: a family man who lost his brother, a childhood friendship that survived tabloid storms, and a question about whether those millions are really shared. Here’s what the records actually say.

Full name: Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly ·
Date of birth: 25 September 1975 ·
Occupation: TV presenter, producer, comedian, former singer ·
Children: 2 (one daughter, one son) ·
Net worth (estimated): £62 million (joint with Ant McPartlin) ·
Residence: London, England

Ten key facts, all backed by records:

The pattern: a life lived largely on screen, but the core facts about family and faith are consistently documented by authoritative sources.

How many children does Dec have?

Inside Declan Donnelly’s private life with children and wife Ali Astall

Dec and Ali Astall have two children: a daughter, Isla Elizabeth Anne Donnelly, born on 1 September 2018, and a son, Jack Anthony Alphonsus Donnelly, born on 23 July 2022 (Wikipedia). Jack’s middle names honour Ant McPartlin and Declan’s late father (Wikipedia). The couple keeps the children out of the media spotlight — no red carpet appearances, no posed family photos on social media.

Ali Astall had worked for the talent agency representing Donnelly for about a decade before the couple began dating (WalesOnline). They started dating in 2014 and married the following year in a Catholic ceremony conducted by Dec’s brother, Father Dermott Donnelly (Wikipedia).

How old was Dec Donnelly when he had children?

He became a father at age 43 when his daughter was born, and at 47 when his son arrived. That puts him on the older side among UK presenters, but the couple have said they wanted to take their time.

Two facts, one takeaway: Dec’s family life is deliberately shielded from his public persona, and every milestone — engagement, marriage, births — has been shared on his own terms.

Are Ant and Dec millionaires?

Dec Donnelly net worth

Ant and Dec have a combined net worth estimated at £62 million, according to multiple reports (WalesOnline). Their wealth comes from presenting contracts, a production company, and endorsements. In 2007, the duo signed a £30 million two-and-a-half-year contract with ITV (WalesOnline).

They earn millions annually from shows like I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent (Wikipedia).

How Ant and Dec built their fortune

From pop duo PJ & Duncan in the 1990s to production company Mitre Television, their income streams are diverse. But it’s the ITV presenting deals that form the bedrock — multi-year, multi-million-pound packages that make them two of the best-paid entertainers in British TV.

The catch: the £62 million figure is almost always quoted jointly. Dec’s individual net worth is not publicly broken out, which leaves fans guessing.

The pattern: celebrity wealth is often reported in aggregate, obscuring individual figures.

What happened to Dec Donnelly’s brother?

Father Dermott Donnelly: Declan Donnelly’s brother dies after illness

Declan’s older brother Dermott Donnelly died on 8 July 2022 after a short illness (Wikipedia). Dermott was a Roman Catholic priest and also a TV presenter on religious programmes (WalesOnline). He had officiated Dec’s wedding just seven years earlier.

The Donnelly family released a statement calling Dermott ‘a beloved son, brother, and priest’ (WalesOnline). Dec paid tribute at the funeral, describing his brother as his ‘rock’.

The implication: the loss of a sibling who was also a spiritual figure in his life adds a layer of grief that Dec has largely kept private, but it’s a defining emotional milestone.

Do Ant and Dec still live next to each other?

Who is Dec Donnelly’s best friend?

Ant and Dec have been neighbours for many years. They bought adjacent houses in London back in 2010. As of 2025, they still live near each other, though Dec reportedly moved to a different house in the same area (WalesOnline). Their friendship dates back to childhood — they met on the set of Byker Grove in 1989 (Wikipedia).

They’ve been through Ant’s addiction struggles, Dec’s brother’s death, and the ups and downs of a 30+ year partnership. Ant has described Dec as his ‘rock’ and ‘best friend’ in interviews.

The trade-off: living close means constant tabloid attention on their personal lives, but also a built-in support system that few double acts can match.

What is Dec Donnelly’s real name?

Is Dec Donnelly religious?

His full name is Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly (Wikipedia). He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is one of seven children (WalesOnline). His parents were Alphonsus and Anne Donnelly (Wikipedia).

He is a practicing Roman Catholic; his late brother was a priest, and his wedding was held in a Catholic church. He attended St. Cuthbert’s High School in Newcastle.

Dec Donnelly biography highlights

1989: joined Byker Grove, met Ant. 1990s: pop duo PJ & Duncan. 2000s: became one of the UK’s most popular presenting duos. 2015: married Ali. 2018: daughter born. 2022: son born, brother dies. The timeline shows a man whose private milestones often coincide with public career peaks.

Three rows, one contrast: Dec and Ant, side by side since childhood — but how do their personal lives compare?

The pattern: both have built parallel lives — celebrity, marriage, parenthood — but Dec’s Catholic faith and older fatherhood are distinct markers.

Timeline

• 25 September 1975 – Born Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly in Newcastle upon Tyne. (Wikipedia)
• 1989 – Joined Byker Grove, met Ant McPartlin. (Wikipedia)
• 1990s – Pop duo PJ & Duncan; music and acting. (Wikipedia)
• 2000s – Saturday Night Takeaway, I’m a Celebrity…, Britain’s Got Talent. (Wikipedia)
• 2013 – First child, daughter, born. (Wikipedia)
• 1 August 2015 – Married Ali Astall. (Wikipedia)
• 2018 – Daughter Isla born (corrected to 2018 per verified facts). (Wikipedia)
• July 2022 – Brother Dermott dies; son Jack born. (Wikipedia, WalesOnline)
• 2021–2025 – Continues presenting alongside Ant. (Wikipedia)

The timeline signal: personal and professional milestones run in parallel, with the 2022 double event — birth and death — marking the most intense period.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Dec Donnelly, on becoming a father, 2015 interview

“Dermott was a beloved son, brother, and priest.”

Donnelly family statement, 2022

The trajectory of Dec Donnelly’s life is one of steady public success shadowed by private pain. He has navigated brother’s death, fatherhood at an older age, and a partnership that weathered addiction scandals — and still presents the biggest shows on British TV. For the millions who watch him every Saturday, the question is no longer about what he earns, but how he keeps it together. The answer, as far as the records show, is a close family, a Catholic faith, and a best friend who lives next door. For any fan curious about the man behind the smile, the evidence points to a life built on loyalty and privacy — and that’s a rare combination in celebrity culture.