Ant and Dec, 50, voice their regrets that they didn’t become dads sooner in rare comments about fatherhood

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Ant and Dec have both shared that they regret not having children sooner, and consider being fathers to be the most fulfilling thing they’ve done.

Ant McPartlin and his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, welcomed their first child together, a son named Wilder, in May 2024. Ant is also a stepfather to Anne-Marie’s two teenage daughters.

Declan Donnelly, age 50, and his wife, Ali Astall, 47, have two young children: a seven-year-old daughter named Isla and a three-year-old son named Jack.

Ant and Dec recently shared on their podcast, ‘Hanging Out With Ant & Dec,’ that they wish they had expanded their families and had more children.

When a fan asked about being a dad, Dec excitedly said it’s been the best experience of his life. He joked that he wished he’d become a father sooner and even considered having a large family – though he quickly added that maybe three children would have been enough.

Ant agreed, telling him ‘I’ve got three and I’d have more.’

Ant shared that being a dad is the greatest feeling, and he feels fortunate to have been a stepfather to his daughters for several years before his son arrived.

I think I had a wonderful start to fatherhood because I was able to connect with my children right away. We could go out and I immediately saw how my actions affected them.

Having my daughters was amazing, but when Wilder came into my life, I finally got to experience all those sweet baby and toddler moments I’d missed out on the first time around. It feels like I’ve truly gotten the best of both worlds – experiencing childhood through both my girls and my son!

It’s a truly transformative experience. Despite the challenges – the lack of sleep, the early wake-up calls, and the exhaustion – it’s incredibly rewarding. I believe it’s the most fulfilling thing a person can do, even more so than any professional accomplishment.

Dec said that becoming parents was their greatest accomplishment, adding that it brought them more joy than anything they’d achieved in their careers.

You don’t immediately realize the profound impact new people can have, but it’s always a positive change, a truly wonderful one. It’s as if meeting them unlocks a whole new perspective on life.

I honestly feel so blessed – I got to experience having both a daughter and a son! I was a little scared when Jack was on the way, though. I kept thinking, ‘Will I be able to love him just as fiercely as I love my Isla?’ It sounds crazy, but I was genuinely worried about splitting my heart!

Am I supposed to divide my affection between them? Is it supposed to be split evenly? Right now, she has all of my attention. But then he showed up, and it hit me – you can’t simply divide your love in half. It doesn’t work like that.

Having another child doubles the amount of love you feel, and unlocks a new capacity for affection you didn’t know you had.

Earlier this month, Ant’s close friend Dec playfully called him ‘icky’ after Ant revealed some very private details about his relationship with his wife, Anne-Marie.

While chatting about Harry Styles’ latest album, ‘Kiss All The Time Disco Occasionally,’ Ant surprised Dec by sharing something unexpected.

Ant mentioned on their podcast, ‘Hanging Out,’ last Thursday that they enjoy kissing – a theme reflected in the title of their album. They clarified that this affection is reserved for their wife, and they aren’t kissing many different people.

Dec made a face and frowned at the camera, then turned to Ant and jokingly said, ‘I thought you were going to surprise us there.’

Ant continued, sharing his enthusiasm for kissing and suggesting it improves with age. He then noticed his friend’s uncomfortable expression and asked why they looked bothered.

‘I find this a bit icky. Just keep it for the bedroom,’ Dec said.

Ant McPartlin married Anne-Marie Corbett, who previously worked as an assistant for his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong, in August 2021. The wedding took place at St Michael’s Church in Heckfield, Hampshire.

He expressed his fondness for kissing, saying people should kiss more often. He emphasized it wasn’t a suggestion for a kiss between himself and the listener, but a general thought about how wonderful kissing is.

‘Think of the first kiss you ever had, and the kisses got better as you got older. It’s great.’

Dec advised keeping whatever ‘it’ is contained to a private space, like the kitchen, and not sharing it with everyone.

‘Kissing?!’ Ant said in shock, as Dec added: ‘It’s a bit icky.’ 

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2026-03-25 12:49