Declan Donnelly says fatherhood is 'literally the hardest thing I've ever done'

Declan Donnelly says becoming a first time dad is the ‘hardest thing’ he’s ever done. The Britain’s Got Talent host welcomed daughter Isla with wife Ali Astall last September.

Speaking to The Evening Standard, Donnelly said: “No one tells you how hard being a parent is! We could have had a warning! It is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m loving it.”

Donnelly married Astall after one year of dating in 2015. Astall was Ant & Dec’s manager up to when she married Donnelly.

During the same interview, he also admitted that he was ‘gutted’ to miss last week’s National Television Awards. Ant & Dec won Best Presenter for the 18th year in a row, and live streamed their winning reactions from upcoming Britain Got Talent’s auditions.

“It was very emotional missing the ceremony as we are there every year. We’ll be back next year though, that’s for certain,” he said.

Donnelly is now reunited with Ant McPartlin for this year’s BGT, after they took a break for almost a year from working together following McPartlin’s arrest for drink-driving and rehab stint.

The duo were tearful as they accept the NTA, with McPartlin saying: “This is a genuine shock, especially this year. I’m shaking. We want to say thank you to everybody, I really don’t feel like I can accept it, the one reason we won this award was this guy, his wit his determination, I love you, pal.”

“I’ve got him back now, now we’e back together. This year more than ever thanks for voting for us,” a teary-eyed Donnelly added.

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