Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Katie Wilson

Dec and wife Ali hit the beach with kids as star-studded I'm A Celeb cast arrive in Oz

Declan Donnelly and wife Ali Astall enjoyed some family time Down Under on Friday, after jetting into Australia earlier this week.

The countdown is officially on for I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, with the star-studded cast - including the likes of Mike Tindall, Charlene White, Chris Moyles and Olivia Attwood - all arriving in Oz, ahead of the series.

And Dec, 47, wasn't showing any signs of jet lag as he and his talent manager wife were spotted strolling on the beach on Australia’s Gold Coast with their four-year-old daughter Isla.

As the waves crashed behind them, 43-year-old Ali stopped to take a family photo to capture the precious moment.

Dec and Ali on the beach with four-year-old Isla (Media-Mode/SplashNews.com)

Dec, who cut a casual figure in a navy T-shirt and shorts, was later seen having some daddy-daughter time with little Isla as they walked on the sand.

Ali looked lovely in a blue striped beach dress and was pictured pushing newborn son Jack in his pram around a shopping area.

Get all the biggest showbiz news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror Showbiz newsletter.

The family made the most of the sunshine (Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)

Dec looked to be happy to be back in Australia again – as it’s the first time I’m A Celeb has been held there since 2019.

Now he’s a busy dad-of-two, he said the experience will be somewhat different.

And he hinted he might have to rope in long-time presenting pal Ant McPartlin for a spot of babysitting.

Mum Ali stopped to take a picture to capture the precious moment (Media-Mode/SplashNews.com)

He told The Mirror: “We have got the family here, baby Jack. And Isla is here, we have got the whole gang.

"It is a bit more stressful coming now, you watch less movies. But it is fine and great to be able to bring them out. We can have a bit of family time as well as getting the series going as well.

Dec and Ali took Isla to dip her feet in the sea (Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)
Dec and Isla were seen having some daddy-daughter time (Media-Mode/SplashNews.com)
Dec looked happy to be back in Australia again after two years (Media-Mode/SplashNews.com)

Celebs taking part in this year’s show include music icon Boy George, who is reported to be the highest paid star to ever go in the jungle.

One of the biggest shock names from this year's line-up, however, is Mike, who is making history as the ITV show's very first Royal Family member.

Boy George, Loose Women's Charlene , A Place In The Sun's Scarlette Douglas , Lioness Jill Scott , Corrie's Sue Cleaver , Radio X DJ Chris , Love Island star Olivia , Hollyoaks' Owen Warner and comedian Babatunde Aleshe have also been signed up.

Ali was spotted pushing newborn son Jack in his pram (Media-Mode/ SplashNews.com)
Dec also pushed little Jack around (Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)

Comedian Seann Walsh is also rumoured to be also starring in this year's series and could arrive as a late edition to the show.

Boy George is said to have secured the highest pay cheque in the show's history as he lands in the outback.

The music icon, 61, was pictured at Brisbane Airport on Saturday morning and wore a lion mask as he walked through the terminal.

He enjoyed a joke as he arrived - but the smiling will soon stop as he gets ready to battle his greatest fears in the jungle.

Dec strolled around Oz (Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)
Boy George touched down earlier this morning (Tim Merry / Daily Star)

The former Culture Club singer arrived at the airport wearing a lion mask, joking: "I'm here to a version of The Lion queen, I don't know what you are talking about darling!"

Meanwhile, rugby pundit Mike, who is married to Princess Anne's daughter Zara Tindall, seemed excited for swapping royal life in favour of slumming it in the jungle as he told reporters: "It should be good fun, why not? It is always worth a go isn't it."

ITV is said to be taking no chances with any of the contestants catching Covid before the show start and has reportedly asked the celebs to isolate in Australia upon their arrival.

A source told the Mirror: "The Celebs normally arrive over a four or five day period and some come in just a day or two before filming and are still a bit jet lagged in camp.

Mike Tindall arrived earlier this week (Tim Merry / Daily Star)
A Place In The Sun's Scarlette Douglas is also part of the line-up (Tim Merry / Daily Star)

"But there is none of that happening this year, everyone will be here a week before they get into camp and some are coming out 10 days before.

"They will be staying in nice places so it won't be like a prison cell but they won't want them mixing with people. Once they are out of the airport the idea is to keep them alone as much as possible to minimise any risk of them having to quit the show.

"ITV don't want to jeopardise the show because of Covid as it has caused them so many problems in the last two years and stopped the show being in Australia for so long."

Olivia's I'm A Celeb appearance marks the first time a Love Islander has been on the ITV show (Mirror Star Express)
Chris Moyles was the first star to land Down Under (Mirror Star Express)

It will be a busy time for Dec and Ali, who married in 2015, as they welcomed Jack at the end of July.

But no-one knew they were having a baby, as they kept the pregnancy a secret until the birth.

Dec called baby Jack’s arrival a “ray of light” for the family following the death of his brother a few weeks earlier.

Sharing the happy family news on Instagram, he wrote: "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."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.