In a significant departure from their established television careers, beloved presenting duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have officially launched their very first podcast. The inaugural episode features a remarkably candid conversation between the two lifelong friends, where they openly discuss their personal New Year's resolutions and the challenges of maintaining them.
Dec's Short-Lived Dry January Attempt
Declan Donnelly, 50, made a surprising confession during the podcast, revealing that his attempt at a 'Dry January' lasted a mere eight days. The father-of-two explained that the intense stress of parenting derailed his alcohol-free pledge. He described how his children became 'feral' during their first week back at school after the Christmas holidays, leading to a particularly difficult weekend.
'I had a very stressful day with the kids,' Dec admitted. 'They've been feral since New Year. They went back to school for that first week, and I thought some discipline and routine would return to their lives. Instead, they were feral all week and the weekend was a disaster. So I was going to do dry January, but in the end, on Saturday night, I put them to bed and opened up all the wine.'
Despite this setback, Dec remains determined to improve his fitness and health throughout the year. 'I've got to get fit and healthy in 2026,' he stated, acknowledging the difficulty of his resolution.
Ant's Resolution to Clean Up His Language
Meanwhile, Ant McPartlin shared a different kind of resolution, driven by his role as a father. With his toddler Wilder, who he shares with wife Anne-Marie Corbett, now twenty months old and rapidly expanding his vocabulary, Ant has vowed to curb his swearing and improve his own language.
'Because Wilder is 20 months now and he's starting to say a lot more words rapidly, day by day,' Ant explained. 'He learned the word 'bumble' the other day, which is good - it's the name of one of our dogs. But he just came out with it, and I thought, 'I've really got to curb the swearing.' So I've just got to at least improve my vocabulary and think of other ways to discipline him.'
To help achieve this goal, Ant revealed he has downloaded a dedicated app that provides him with a new word to learn each day, demonstrating his commitment to becoming a more articulate role model for his young son.
Podcast Launch Follows Social Media Controversy
The launch of 'Hanging Out With Ant and Dec' comes shortly after the duo faced significant backlash over their initial promotional material. Last week, they posted a social media trailer showing feet suspended in the air, which many followers interpreted as being insensitive to suicide.
The controversial post, which featured shoes and trouser legs dangling above the ground, was intended to promote their new podcast to their 5.9 million followers. However, after receiving substantial criticism accusing them of poor judgement, the pair removed the video within hours of posting it.
Representatives for Ant and Dec issued a formal apology, stating: 'We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video and we are sorry if it has upset anyone. We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video.'
The podcast marks a new chapter for the Geordie presenters, both 50, who have dominated British television for decades with shows including 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' and 'Saturday Night Takeaway'. Their decision to venture into podcasting represents a strategic expansion of their media presence beyond traditional broadcasting.
'Hanging Out With Ant & Dec' is now available across all major podcast platforms, offering fans a more intimate and unfiltered glimpse into the lives and friendship of Britain's most famous presenting partnership.
