Inside Dec Donnelly’s marriage to wife Ali Astall

Declan Donnelly, best known as one half of the famous TV duo Ant & Dec with his pal Ant McPartlin, has been married to his stunning wife Ali Astall for eight years.

After being friends and colleagues for a decade, the couple eventually ended up dating and even getting married in 2015.

The popular pair were greeted by plenty of high-profile celebrities on their big day, including This Morning’s Holly Willoughby and Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly.

Later on, they welcomed two children, with proud Dec confessing: “I felt a love that I didn’t realise it was possible to feel.”

As the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! host celebrates his 48th birthday today, Express.co.uk looks back on his heartwarming relationship.

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Romance in the workplace 

Like Dec, Ali grew up in Newcastle and went on to have a career working as a talent manager alongside the likes of Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby.

She was also Dec’s talent manager for a grand total of ten years, before the pair decided to admit their feelings for one another.

Dec previously told Express.co.uk about when they first got together, explaining: “We always hung out.

“When she was single and I was single we’d go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day together.

“Last year we went out as a couple. It was a little strange because we’ve had a working relationship for so long.”

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A star-studded wedding

On August 1, 2015, Ali and Dec married in an intimate ceremony with 200 guests at St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Newcastle.

The couple, who got engaged in November 2014, exchanged vows in front of some of British television’s most famous faces before heading to the rural 300-acre estate Matfen Hall for their reception.

The ceremony was conducted by Dec’s late brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, and his best friend Ant acted as his best man.

Ali, who arrived at the church in a Rolls Royce Phantom, wore an elegant silk couture wedding dress designed by British creative Phillipa Lepley.

The wedding was attended by plenty of high-profile guests, including This Morning’s Holly Willoughby and former co-host Phillip Schofield.

Also in attendance were famous presenter Fearne Cotton, celebrity power couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes, and Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly.

Becoming doting parents 

Dec and Ali welcomed their first child, a daughter named Isla Elizabeth Anne Donnelly, in September 2018.

The Saturday Night Takeaway host announced the news of the birth of their baby girl on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, at the time.

He penned: “Ali and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our baby girl, Isla Elizabeth Anne, who was born just after 9 o’clock this morning.

He continued: “Mother and daughter both doing well, Dad is head over heels! D x.” (sic)

The ITV star also opened up about the birth of his daughter in Ant & Dec’s book, Once Upon a Tyne, writing: “Becoming a dad has completely transformed me.

“At first, like all expectant parents, I didn’t truly understand how much it was going to change me.

“I just thought it was another little person coming to live in the house… It opened up a whole other side to me, a side I didn’t know existed.

“I felt a love that I didn’t realise it was possible to feel. Everything I do, every day, is for my daughter now.”

Dec and Ali went on to welcome a second child, a son named Jack Anthony Alphonsus, in July 2022.

Taking to Instagram, the presenter told his fans: “Shortly before 10am yesterday, 23.7.2022, Ali and I welcomed the arrival of our son, Jack Anthony Alphonsus, a very welcome ray of light.

“He is wonderful and Isla is beyond excited to be a big sister! D x”.

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