Television presenter Declan Donnelly has marked a major career milestone with a significant property investment, purchasing his third home on the same West London street. The move comes hot on the heels of the lucrative new £30 million deal he and presenting partner Ant McPartlin have signed with ITV.
A Growing Property Portfolio
Donnelly, 50, has now secured a trio of houses on the exclusive road. His original purchase was a seven-bedroom mansion bought in 2006 for £1.9 million, which he has since upgraded with a cinema, swimming pool, steam room, and poolside kitchen. Its value is now estimated at over three times the original price.
Three years ago, he expanded his holdings by acquiring the neighbouring property for £2.25 million, a move said to have pleased locals as it renovated a run-down eyesore. His latest acquisition is the house next door to that second property, completing a remarkable trio. While the exact price remains undisclosed, similar homes on the street are currently fetching around £2.5 million.
Planning Permissions and Past Neighbours
Details of the sale emerged after planning applications were submitted to the local council by Donnelly's wife, Ali Astall. The proposals seek to add a side extension and install a new gate at the latest property, which currently consists of two flats. It is not yet known if Donnelly plans to develop, merge, or eventually sell the new acquisition.
Interestingly, Ant McPartlin was once a neighbour on the same street, living a few doors down from Dec before his divorce from his first wife, Lisa Armstrong. McPartlin has since moved to a £6 million home in South West London with his new wife, Anne-Marie Corbett. The couple are reportedly now house-hunting themselves.
Securing the Future with ITV
The property purchase is believed to have been finalised within the last two months, coinciding with the negotiations for Ant & Dec's new three-year ITV contract. The deal, worth a reported £5 million per year to each star, secures their services until the end of 2028. This marks 30 years since the Geordie duo first joined ITV to host the children's programme SM:TV.
In a statement last week, Dec expressed his enthusiasm for the future, saying, "We're so lucky to work on some of the biggest and best TV shows and we're proud of what we have achieved together with ITV over the years. We're excited for the future and looking forward to making more great entertainment together."
Kevin Lygo, ITV's Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, praised the pair, stating their impact on live entertainment was "unrivalled" and that he was delighted to secure them for three more years.
The coming year is packed for the presenting duo, with new series of Ant & Dec's Limitless Win, Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity South Africa, and the flagship I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! The first episode of the latest 'Jungle' series consolidated with an impressive audience of 11.2 million viewers.
