Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV I'm A Celebrity's Dec Donnelly makes family confession as he lands in Australia

With days to go until the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, the show's hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have touched down in Australia. Snapped Down Under, the pair looked happy to be back in the ITV programme's spiritual home after the show was filmed for the last two years in the UK.

The celebrity reality show is returning to its original jungle location after the past two series were filmed at Gwrych Castle in North Wales due to Covid-19 travel restrictions and several of the show's 2022 stars have been seen touching down in Australia - including Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, radio DJ Chris Moyles and Loose Women star Charlene White.

The forthcoming series will launch on Sunday, November 6, at 9pm, and it now appears to have been confirmed that the previously mentioned celebrities will also be joined by the likes of Culture Club's Boy George, former rugby player and royal through marriage Mike Tindall and Lioness Jill Scott among a string of others.

READ MORE: ITV I'm A Celebrity 2022 line-up 'in full' with music icon, a royal, Corrie favourite, and Loose Women star

But back to Dec and the presenter was spotted touching down in Australia with his children and wife ahead of the new series. The 46-year-old was spotted at Brisbane airport alongside Ali, their four-year-old daughter Isla and three-month-old son Jack.

Speaking to The Sun as he arrived, Dec made a bit of a confession about returning to Australia with his family in tow. He said: “It is very exciting, I can’t wait to get going. We have got the family here, baby Jack. And Isla is here, we have got the whole gang."

He added: "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." He also joked that he might even rope his TV partner and pal Ant into babysitting duties.

Dec arriving at Brisbane Airport with wife Ali and their young family (Tim Merry / Daily Star)

Dec and Ali, who is a talent manager who actually worked as Dec's manager for over a decade before they got together, married in 2015, with daughter Isla arriving in 2018. Jack was born earlier this year, with the pair keeping the pregnancy a secret until he was born in July.

However, Jack’s arrival was unfortunately tinged with a bit of sadness as the presenter’s brother died suddenly weeks before Jack arrived. Father Dermott Donnelly, who had JUST celebrated 30 years of service in the Catholic church, died in hospital in July, aged 55, after falling seriously ill.

TV star Dec said his family 'can't believe he's gone' as hundreds gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle for Fr Dermott’s Requiem Mass, with more than 2,000 watching the service on a livestream while Ant arrived separately. The long-time friends and TV partners hugged outside after the service before applause erupted as Fr Dermott's hearse pulled away.

READ NEXT:

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
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.