OHMYGOSSIP — Declan Donnelly has welcomed a baby son with wife Ali Astall.
The 45-year-old TV star – who already has three-year-old Isla with Ali – had not publicly announced that his wife was pregnant but hailed baby Jack as a “ray of light” following the recent death of his brother Dermott.
He wrote on Twitter: “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”
The baby’s middle name is thought to be a tribute to Dec’s regular co-star and best friend Ant McPartlin – with whom he fronts television favourites such as ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’.
The happy news for the couple comes just weeks after Dec’s brother Father Dermott Donnelly died suddenly from a suspected brain bleed at the age of 55.
At the time, a spokesman for the ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ host said: “It is with great sadness that we
confirm the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly who died peacefully this afternoon in hospital surrounded by his family and close friends. We ask for the utmost privacy for the Donnelly family at this difficult time.”
Father Peter Kyi Maung, who served with Dermott at St Joseph’s Church in Stanley, Co. Durham, said: “He was hardly breathing in the bed, it was so sad. They think he had bleeding on the brain. Declan had come to be with him
and their mum was there as well, I saw her at the hospital and it was so hard for her, a mother seeing her dying son. When she hugged me, I knew how much she was suffering.”