Anthony McPartlin’s Secret Property Purchase Near Declan Donnelly’s Home Fuels Speculation of Expanding Family Plans with Anne-Marie Corbett

Anthony McPartlin, one half of the UK’s cherished presenting duo Ant and Dec, has once again set tongues wagging with a discreet yet significant move. The 49-year-old television icon, known for hosting I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent, has reportedly purchased a multi-million-pound property near the west London home of his lifelong friend and co-star, Declan Donnelly. This acquisition, first whispered about on X and detailed in reports from outlets like HELLO! and The Mirror, has sparked fervent speculation about McPartlin’s future with his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, and their potential plans to expand their family. With their son Wilder Patrick McPartlin born in May 2024, fans are buzzing: could this new property signal more children or a deeper commitment to their blended family life?

McPartlin and Corbett, who married in a star-studded ceremony in August 2021, have been living in a stunning £6 million Wimbledon mansion since 2019, a home they share with Corbett’s two teenage daughters, Daisy and Poppy, from her previous marriage. The couple’s journey to parenthood was a long-cherished dream for McPartlin, who openly spoke of his desire for children despite fears it might never happen. Wilder’s arrival, announced with a heartfelt Instagram post on their joint Ant and Dec account, was a milestone that left McPartlin “a mess” and Corbett hailed as “a legend.” The family’s happiness has been evident in recent sightings—whether strolling in Australia during I’m A Celebrity filming or enjoying a low-key coffee date in Cabarita with seven-month-old Wilder in tow.

The new property purchase, reportedly costing over £2 million, is a neighboring house to Donnelly’s £7 million west London abode, where he resides with his wife, Ali Astall, and their children, Isla, six, and Jack, two. According to HELLO!, Donnelly snapped up the adjacent “eyesore” property to renovate and expand his family’s space, a move that McPartlin appears to be mirroring. The proximity of the new purchase to Donnelly’s home has fueled rumors that McPartlin is planning for a larger family or a more integrated life with his best friend’s household. Posts on X have been ablaze with theories, with one user writing, “Ant buying a house next to Dec’s? That’s family goals. Bet they’re planning more kids and BBQs together!” Another speculated, “Wilder’s just the start. Ant and Anne-Marie are building a legacy.”

The timing of the purchase is intriguing. McPartlin’s life has stabilized significantly since his turbulent 2018 divorce from Lisa Armstrong, a period marked by addiction struggles, a drink-driving incident, and a stint in rehab. Corbett, once his personal assistant, became his “rock,” supporting him through recovery and into a new chapter. Their Wimbledon home, with its blue-themed living room and BAFTA-filled display cabinet, has been a sanctuary for their blended family, occasionally glimpsed in social media posts during Saturday Night Takeaway broadcasts. The decision to invest in additional property suggests a long-term vision, possibly driven by practical needs—like more space for Daisy and Poppy, who are nearing adulthood—or aspirational ones, such as welcoming more children.

Fans point to McPartlin’s history of family-oriented decisions as evidence. In 2020, he moved six miles from his former Chiswick marital home, which he left to Armstrong in their £31 million divorce settlement, to Wimbledon, a “perfect British village” known for its exclusivity. The choice was deliberate, offering proximity to parks for their dogs—Hurley, Milo, and Bumble—and a nurturing environment for Corbett’s daughters. The new property, described as needing renovation, could serve multiple purposes: a guest house for visiting family, a creative space for McPartlin’s production ventures, or, as many hope, a home tailored for a growing brood. “Ant’s always wanted a big family,” one X post noted. “This feels like him and Anne-Marie planning for the future.”

The close bond between McPartlin and Donnelly adds another layer to the speculation. The duo, who met as teens on Byker Grove and built a 30-year career as Ant and Dec, are practically family. Donnelly was McPartlin’s best man at both his weddings, and McPartlin rushed to meet Donnelly’s daughter Isla hours after her birth in 2018. Their professional synergy extends to personal life, with their wives, Corbett and Astall, sharing a decade-long friendship from their time at the same management company. The idea of living as neighbors isn’t new—during their marriage, McPartlin and Armstrong lived on the same Chiswick street as Donnelly. This latest purchase feels like a reaffirmation of that closeness, with fans on X joking about “Ant and Dec’s compound” where their kids will grow up as siblings.

However, the rumors of “expanding family plans” aren’t without skepticism. Some question whether the purchase is purely financial—an investment in London’s booming property market—or tied to McPartlin’s desire for privacy as his fame grows. Others note that Corbett, at 46, may not be planning more biological children, though adoption or fostering could be options, given McPartlin’s role as a devoted stepfather. The couple’s decision to pause Saturday Night Takeaway in 2024 to focus on family suggests a shift in priorities, but McPartlin’s demanding schedule, including I’m A Celebrity and Britain’s Got Talent, could complicate immediate plans for more kids.

The secrecy of the purchase aligns with McPartlin’s approach to personal matters. Unlike his high-profile 2021 wedding, which drew stars like Phillip Schofield and Alesha Dixon, McPartlin has kept this move under wraps, with no public comment from him or Corbett. Yet, the lack of confirmation only fuels fan imagination. “Ant’s building a dynasty next to Dec,” one X user quipped. “Wilder’s gonna have a baby brother soon!” Another tied it to the couple’s third anniversary vow renewal, rumored in April 2025, suggesting the property is part of a broader commitment to their future.

Critically, the purchase reflects McPartlin’s evolution from a man who once feared he’d never have a family to one embracing every facet of fatherhood. His joy at Wilder’s birth and his seamless integration into Corbett’s daughters’ lives show a maturity forged through hardship. The property, whether for family expansion or simply to stay close to Donnelly, symbolizes stability—a stark contrast to the chaos of 2018. For fans, it’s a heartwarming narrative of second chances, with one X post summing it up: “Ant’s got his dream life now. House, baby, Dec next door. What more could he want?”

As McPartlin and Corbett settle into their roles as parents, the new property stands as a quiet promise—of growth, togetherness, or perhaps just a place to call home. Whether the rumors of more children prove true, one thing is clear: McPartlin is building a future where family, in all its forms, comes first. And with Donnelly just a stone’s throw away, that future looks brighter than ever.