Ant & Dec—Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin—remain one of British television’s most enduring partnerships. In 2022, both celebrated their 47th birthdays and continued to anchor major ITV shows, from Britain’s Got Talent to I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
The duo’s story began in the late 1980s on the set of the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove, where they met as young actors. They later reinvented themselves as pop act PJ & Duncan before becoming permanent fixtures on primetime TV, a journey that has lasted more than three decades.
Today, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are not just television presenters but household names, each with a distinct public profile and personal life. This article gathers what is publicly known about their age, families, and the major career milestones that shaped 2022.
Ant Dec Age: How Old Are Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly?
Both members of the duo were born in 1975, making them contemporaries in age as well as in career. Declan Donnelly is the older of the two, born on 25 September 1975, while Anthony McPartlin followed on 18 November 1975. In 2022, they were each 47 for most of the year.
Their shared age and near-identical career trajectory have often led to them being described as “twin-like” on screen, a comparison frequently noted in profile pieces across the British press. The two-month gap between their birthdays is the only real difference in their timelines.
Key Facts at a Glance
Declan Donnelly & Anthony McPartlin
25 Sept 1975 & 18 Nov 1975
Ali Astall (m. 2015) & Anne-Marie Corbett (m. 2021)
Presenting BGT and I’m a Celebrity; Ant became a father
Key Insights
- Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are both in their late 40s, born in the same year.
- Dec is older by roughly two months, a detail often referenced in interviews.
- Both are married, with Dec tying the knot in 2015 and Ant in 2021.
- The duo’s partnership spans more than 30 years, from Byker Grove to primetime TV.
- 2022 marked the return of full live audiences for their flagship shows.
- Ant became a father in 2022, adding a new chapter to his personal life.
Snapshot Facts
| Attribute | Ant McPartlin | Declan Donnelly |
|---|---|---|
| Birthdate | 18 November 1975 | 25 September 1975 |
| Age in 2022 | 47 | 47 |
| Partner | Anne-Marie Corbett (m. 2021) | Ali Astall (m. 2015) |
| Children | 1 (son, born 2024) | 2 (daughter, son) |
| Years active | 1990–present | 1990–present |
| Notable shows | Saturday Night Takeaway, BGT, I’m a Celebrity | Same as Ant |
Ant Dec Partner: Who Are the Duo Married To?
Declan Donnelly has been married to Ali Astall since 2015. Astall, who has worked as the duo’s manager, has been a constant presence in Dec’s personal and professional life. The couple welcomed their second child, a boy named Jack Anthony Alphonsus Donnelly, in July 2022.
Ant McPartlin married Anne-Marie Corbett in 2021. Corbett had previously worked as his personal assistant, and their relationship developed over several years. Ant had an earlier marriage to Lisa Armstrong, which ended before he and Corbett began their relationship.
Dec’s wife Ali Astall is also the duo’s manager, a role that has kept her closely tied to their public work. Ant’s wife Anne-Marie Corbett was previously his personal assistant, a detail that has been widely reported across entertainment outlets.
The Growing Families
Dec and Ali’s second child arrived in 2022, expanding their family. The couple already had a daughter, and the birth of Jack Anthony Alphonsus Donnelly was covered by several UK outlets, including Metro.
Ant and Anne-Marie also became parents, with their son born in 2024. This came after a period of personal recovery for Ant, who had taken a break from television in earlier years.
Ant was previously married to Lisa Armstrong, a makeup artist. That marriage ended before he and Corbett became a couple. Dec’s marriage to Astall remains his only marriage, as reported in profiles and interviews.
Ant Dec 2022: What Happened in Their Career That Year?
The year 2022 was a busy one for the duo. They returned to presenting full series of Britain’s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, with live audiences fully back after the pandemic-era restrictions. It was also the year that Ant became a father for the first time, a personal milestone that coincided with a packed professional schedule.
Franchise Expansion
Media coverage in 2022 also highlighted the filming of I’m A Celeb: South Africa, an All Stars edition of the franchise. This spin-off was part of a broader expansion of the I’m a Celebrity brand, with the duo at the centre of its ongoing success.
Longevity in British TV
By 2022, Ant and Dec had been presenting together for over 30 years. Their careers began with children’s television and pop music, but they have become the face of some of the UK’s biggest entertainment formats. Their active years are listed as spanning from 1993 onwards in one source, reflecting the durability of their partnership.
The duo’s path has not been without obstacles. Ant has faced addiction struggles and legal issues, taking a break from television between 2017 and 2020. Despite these challenges, they have remained a staple of prime-time entertainment.
Timeline of Key Moments
The following timeline traces the major milestones in Ant and Dec’s shared career and personal lives, drawing on interviews and news reports to establish a factual sequence of events.
- 1989/1990 – Met on the set of Byker Grove
- 1994 – Released “Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble” as PJ & Duncan
- 2002 – Began presenting Pop Idol
- 2007 – Phone-in scandal involving their show
- 2015 – Dec married Ali Astall
- 2017 – Ant entered rehab; duo temporarily split
- 2020 – Ant returned to TV after a second rehab stint
- 2021 – Ant married Anne-Marie Corbett
- 2022 – Both presented full series of BGT and I’m a Celebrity; Ant became a father
- 2023 – 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway announced as final
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?
Public records and official statements confirm the core facts of Ant and Dec’s lives, but some peripheral details remain subject to speculation. Below is a breakdown of established information versus points that have not been definitively confirmed.
| Established Information | Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Birthdates and ages | Exact net worth |
| Marriages to Anne-Marie Corbett and Ali Astall | Future of Saturday Night Takeaway after 2024 break |
| Children and birth years | Specifics of early career disagreements |
What Is the Background Behind Their Enduring Appeal?
Ant and Dec’s origins lie in children’s television. They met as child actors on Byker Grove, where they played characters that would later lend their names to their pop career as PJ & Duncan. This early foundation gave them a natural chemistry that became the hallmark of their presenting style.
Their shift from actors to presenters was gradual but effective. By hosting shows like Gimme 5 and later Pop Idol, they built a reputation for relaxed, humorous interaction. This approach has kept them at the forefront of British entertainment, even as formats have evolved.
Their handling of personal crises has been a defining part of their public narrative. Ant’s addiction struggles, in particular, were handled openly, with the duo speaking candidly about the impact on their careers. Their ability to navigate such challenges has contributed to their status as trusted television personalities.
What Do They Say About Their Partnership?
Interviews and social media posts offer a glimpse into the dynamics of their relationship. In a 2017 interview with the Mirror, Dec admitted that they did not particularly like each other at first, describing his initial impression of Ant as “miserable.” That early friction has long since given way to a close working bond.
“We didn’t particularly like each other at first, I thought he was miserable”
— Declan Donnelly, Mirror interview (2017)
In more recent social media exchanges, the pair maintain a playful rapport. A Facebook post quoted Ant joking about Dec’s inability to hear noise, reflecting the easy familiarity that defines their public interactions.
“Dec’s okay he can’t hear the din he’s making lol”
— Ant McPartlin, Facebook post
What Comes Next for Ant and Dec?
Looking ahead, Ant and Dec are expected to continue their roles on Britain’s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2025. The future of Saturday Night Takeaway remains uncertain following its hiatus after the 2024 series, with no official announcement yet regarding its return.
For more on one half of the duo, see our detailed profile on Ant McPartlin – Who He Is, His Family and TV Comeback. For another British TV presenter’s story, explore Sue Perkins – Partner, Brain Tumour, and 2025 Tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old were Ant and Dec in 2022?
Both were 47 for most of 2022. Dec was born on 25 September 1975 and Ant on 18 November 1975.
Who is Dec married to?
Dec has been married to Ali Astall, the duo’s manager, since 2015.
Who is Ant married to?
Ant married Anne-Marie Corbett in 2021. She was previously his personal assistant.
How did Ant and Dec meet?
They met as child actors on the set of the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove in the late 1980s.
Did Ant and Dec ever split up?
The duo briefly worked separately in 2017-2020 while Ant underwent treatment for addiction. They have continued working together since his return.
What is Saturday Night Takeaway?
It is a Saturday night entertainment show hosted by Ant and Dec, which ran for 20 series before going on hiatus.
Henry Morgan is Senior Reporter at DailyCity.co.uk, covering breaking news and general city stories across the UK.