In a remarkably candid first-ever podcast appearance, the nation's favourite television duo, Ant and Dec, have opened up about their private battles, with Declan Donnelly revealing a silent struggle with persistent anxiety.
The Silent Struggle with 'Voices in My Head'
Speaking on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Donnelly confessed to a "low level, constant anxiety" that has long been a feature of his life. The I'm A Celebrity host described an internal pressure that leaves him unable to relax, feeling he should always be productive.
"I never feel I can sit down and just watch telly," Donnelly shared. "I always feel like I should be doing something else. There's that anxiety that there's a job that needs to be done somewhere and I should be doing it." He spoke of trying to calm the voice in his head that insists he use his time more productively.
In a significant personal revelation, Donnelly disclosed that he sought professional help, undergoing therapy around five or six years ago. He stated he found the process incredibly beneficial, saying, "I really got a lot out of it. I really enjoyed it."
Life On and Off Screen: Fatherhood and Career Reflections
Joined by his lifelong friend and co-host Anthony McPartlin, the conversation also turned to their lives as fathers and their perspective on their enduring TV careers. McPartlin admitted he now has to watch his language around his 19-month-old son, while Donnelly revealed a parenting dilemma regarding his own children watching his shows.
Donnelly explained that his seven-year-old daughter, Isla, asks to watch I'm A Celebrity... but he is hesitant as it airs post-watershed. He expressed similar reservations about his three-year-old son, Jack, viewing his work.
Reflecting on their professional partnership, which began in their teens, McPartlin called it "the best job in the world," acknowledging they've hosted "some turkeys" over the years but feel privileged to entertain families on a Saturday night. Donnelly emphasised they take their role of family entertainment "incredibly seriously," always considering how to bring generations together through shows like Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent.
New Ventures and a Recent Controversy
The pair announced they are launching their own podcast series, Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, which begins later this week. Donnelly revealed this wasn't their first foray into podcasting, having recorded a pilot "about 15 years ago" in a pub, but never taking it further until now.
This new venture recently faced an early stumble, however. Last week, the duo issued a public apology for a promotional video that faced backlash for containing "suicide imagery." In a statement, they said they "did not mean to cause any offence" and were "sorry if it upset anyone."
As for Donnelly's ongoing mental health journey, he shared that after a break from therapy, his original therapist was unavailable, but had recommended another professional. "I've still got those details," Donnelly noted, "I just haven't managed to make an appointment yet."
