Television presenter Ant McPartlin has been labelled "icky" by his longtime friend and co-host Dec Donelly after revealing surprisingly personal details about his intimate life with wife Anne-Marie Corbett. The awkward moment unfolded during a discussion on their popular podcast, Hanging Out, this Thursday.
An 'Icky' Admission About Kissing
The conversation began innocently enough, with the pair talking about Harry Styles' new album, Kiss All The Time Disco Occasionally. Ant, however, took the opportunity to share a candid confession about his affection for kissing. "I do kiss a lot though," Ant declared, referencing the album title. "I do like kissing. It's one of the things to do. My wife, the same person. I'm not going around just kissing loads of people."
Dec's immediate reaction was one of visible discomfort. He scrunched his face up in a grimace, turning to the camera before addressing Ant directly. "Thought you were gonna stick one on us there," Dec remarked, clearly unsettled by the personal nature of the admission.
Defending His Passion
Undeterred, Ant continued to elaborate on his love for kissing, suggesting that it improves with age. "Think of the first kiss you ever had, and the kisses got better as you got older. It's great," he mused. When he noticed Dec's continued unease, Ant questioned why his friend was making such an uncomfortable face.
Dec did not hold back in his response. "I find this a bit icky. Just keep it for the bedroom," he stated bluntly. Ant, seemingly shocked, retorted, "Kissing?!" to which Dec firmly added, "It's a bit icky. Keep it for the kitchen or wherever you do it but don't broadcast it to everybody!"
Ant, who married Anne-Marie Corbett in August 2021 at St Michael's Church in Heckfield, Hampshire, remained enthusiastic. "I like kissing we should kiss more. Not me and you. People should just kiss. Kissing's great isn't it. Isn't kissing great? Isn't it though?" he gushed, highlighting his affectionate nature.
Revealing Why They Won't Host the BRIT Awards Again
In the same podcast episode, the duo also opened up about their decision to never host the BRIT Awards again, hinting at past frustrations with the event. Ant and Dec have hosted the prestigious ceremony three times—in 2001, 2015, and 2016—but they have firmly ruled out a return.
The Challenges of Hosting
Ant explained that the primary reason for their "never again" stance is the chaotic atmosphere of the awards show. "It's a fun night if you're nominated. It's a fun night, not necessarily, if you're hosting it, though, because everybody in the room just wants to get drunk and have a good time," he said.
He elaborated on the difficulties of managing the crowd while presenting a live television broadcast. Additionally, Ant revealed a recurring issue with artists who promise interviews before the show but change their minds at the last minute. "All the artists and bands who said they would happily do an interview with you before the show starts, always change their mind," he noted.
A Hint of 'Beef' with Coldplay
Specifically, Ant called out Coldplay for this behaviour, recounting an instance where the band backed out of a planned interview just minutes before going live. "They'll say 'Down in the middle of the show Coldplay are going to do an interview with you'. You're like 'Great it's going to be a great show'. And then come to the night, like, 10 minutes before you go live, they say, 'Hmm Coldplay don't really want to do an interview before they perform'," Ant explained.
Dec humorously suggested this was "the beginning of Ant's beef with Chris Martin," Coldplay's frontman. Ant was quick to deny any animosity, insisting, "I don't have beef." However, the anecdote underscored their frustrations with the unpredictable nature of hosting such a high-profile event.
When Dec asked if Ant would be hosting this Saturday's BRIT Awards, Ant laughed and replied, "No I'm not, are you? Three times. Never again." He added, "I should never say never, because it's a weird thing to host," but the message was clear: their hosting days at the BRITs are firmly behind them.
