I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! host Ant McPartlin has arrived in Australia, ready to kick off the new series alongside co-host Declan Donnelly.
From babies to Bushtucker trials, the dynamic duo have been at the helm of the reality show since its inception in 2002, and this year’s eagerly awaited series is set to be jam-packed with even more nail-biting trials, celebrity tittle-tattle and top-notch entertainment. Joining WAG Coleen and McFly frontman Danny on the show are GK Barry, Tulisa, Barry McGuigan, Melvin Odoom, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, and Dean McCullough, with Love Island’s Maura Higgins and presenter Reverend Richard Coles tipped to join as latecomers.
A source close to Ant revealed his enthusiasm for the star-studded line-up, which fans have hailed ‘the best yet’, saying: “Ant loves I’m A Celeb so much and is so dedicated to the show, it is always a highlight in his year. it was bittersweet leaving but he is also so excited for the new series. He loves football and is so happy they’ve got Coleen in this year, he thinks this line-up could be the best they’ve had in a long time so he’s focusing on that and is happy to be back.”
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However, a source close to the presenter revealed that being away from his six-month-old son, Wilder, and wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, will take a toll on the new dad.
“Ant is feeling really emotional about being so far away from Anne-Marie and Wilder. It’s the longest he has left them for and it’s going to be so difficult,” the source claimed. Ant, 48, welcomed his first child with Anne-Marie in May, sharing the joyous news on Instagram with a photo of himself cradling baby Wilder, writing: “Welcome to the family, Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54 am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess! ” As Ant settles into his 22nd year of hosting duties, he’ll have to navigate the distance from his loved ones while working alongside Dec and stars like Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones in the jungle.
Ant has been wedded to Anne-Marie, his former PA, since 2021. The pair exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony at St Michael’s Church in Heckfield, reports OK! Magazine.
He shares a close relationship with Anne-Marie’s daughters, Daisy and Poppy, and even has a tattoo tribute to the three women, with their names etched on his bicep. Despite the recent whirlwind of life with a newborn – including sleepless nights and endless nappy changes, Ant is now off to Australia for the next three weeks for work.
This absence, especially when his little one is still so young and each week brings new developments, will undoubtedly be a mixed bag of emotions for the presenter. An insider revealed: “Anne-Marie and Ant are going to stay in constant communication and FaceTime lots, but he is worried about the time difference. When he wakes up, Anne Marie will have put Wilder to bed, so, it’s tough to navigate. Ant has made sure Anne Marie has a strong support system back home and he knows Wilder will be safe with his mum, he will just be missing them a lot.”
Despite the pain of leaving his family behind, Ant, naturally, has the support – and friendly ribbing – of his best mate, Dec to keep him occupied, who is accompanied by his wife, Ali Astall, and their two children, Isla, six, and two year old Jack, in Australia.
A source close to the duo revealed their strong bond, stating: “Dec is so supportive, and Ant gets on so well with Ali and the kids so it’s like he’s got his second family over there. They’re so close”. Upon touching down in Australia last week, Ant couldn’t contain his excitement, saying: “I can’t wait for the show to begin, it’s an incredible cast. It’ll be nice to be reunited with Dec and it’ll be nice to see him. It will be nice to be reunited with him, he’s had a family holiday. It will be nice to see his tan lines. We will run towards each other on the beach in open arms.”
Not wasting any time, Ant was spotted enjoying breakfast with Dec and his family the next day, soaking up the Gold Coast sun before I’m A Celeb started.
If their friendship wasn’t already solid enough, Ant confessed earlier this year that he’s been receiving some sound parenting advice from Dec. However, Dec humorously responded: “I do share tips and things. They’re very bad. My tips are normally: give the baby to somebody else! That’s it.”