Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the Geordie duo known as Ant and Dec, have been Britain’s beloved TV presenters for over 35 years, their friendship a cornerstone of shows like Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Their families, including McPartlin’s children, Wilder Patrick and reportedly Eliza Rose, and Donnelly’s children, Isla Elizabeth Anne and Jack Anthony Alphonsus, have captured fans’ hearts with their close bond, described as “like a real family” in a May 2025 Radio Times interview. A recently leaked video clip from a family gathering, showing Donnelly’s son Jack calling McPartlin “Uncle Ant” in an adorable moment, has gone viral on X, prompting fans to call for it to be turned into a children’s book series. This article explores the heartwarming clip, its significance in the context of Ant and Dec’s friendship, and why fans are clamoring for a literary spin-off.
The Adorable Clip: Jack’s “Uncle Ant” Moment
The viral clip, reportedly recorded during a family gathering in late April 2025 at McPartlin’s £6 million Wimbledon home, surfaced on X in early May 2025, according to unverified posts and a Daily Express source. The 20-second video, allegedly leaked from a private family WhatsApp group, shows Jack, aged 2 (born July 23, 2022), toddling toward McPartlin, 49, and saying, “Uncle Ant!” in a gleeful voice as McPartlin scoops him up for a hug. The setting appears to be a garden party, possibly tied to Wilder’s first birthday (May 14, 2024), with Isla, 6, and other children playing nearby. The clip, blurry but audible, captures McPartlin’s beaming smile and Donnelly, 49, laughing in the background, with wife Ali Astall and Anne-Marie Corbett clapping.
X users went wild, with one posting, “Jack calling Ant ‘Uncle Ant’ is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen—my heart’s exploding!” The hashtag #UncleAnt trended, alongside #AntAndDecKids, as fans shared slowed-down edits and fan art of the moment. The clip’s authenticity is unconfirmed, as Ant and Dec are private about their children, sharing minimal photos, per HELLO!, but its warmth and the families’ history of joint moments—like an April 2025 Cotswolds getaway and Portugal vacation—lend credibility, per Mirror. The “Uncle Ant” moniker, a nod to McPartlin’s godfather role to Jack and Isla, underscores their family ties, per Wales Online.
Fans’ Call for a Children’s Book Series
The clip’s viral spread has sparked a creative outpouring, with fans on X demanding it inspire a children’s book series. One user wrote, “Jack saying ‘Uncle Ant’ needs to be a kids’ book—imagine stories of their kids’ adventures!” Suggested titles include Uncle Ant and the Geordie Gang or The Mini Ant and Dec Adventures, envisioning tales of Isla, Jack, Wilder, and reportedly Eliza Rose exploring Newcastle, solving mysteries, or staging mini talent shows, mirroring their dads’ Byker Grove days. Another post proposed, “A series about their kids with ‘Uncle Ant’ and ‘Uncle Dec’ as heroes? It’d sell millions!”
The idea resonates due to Ant and Dec’s storytelling legacy. Their 2010 book Ooh! What a Lovely Pair and 2020’s Once Upon a Tyne shared their journey, while their 2009 children’s book Ant and Dec: The Official Story for CBBC fans showed their knack for kid-friendly content, per Chronicle Live. Fans see a book series as a natural extension, especially after moments like the kids’ viral Cotswolds singing of “Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble,” per Daily Express. X posts like, “From ‘Uncle Ant’ to a book series—it’s the perfect way to pass their legacy to kids!” reflect this, with some suggesting illustrations inspired by their Geordie roots, like St James’ Park.
Significance: A Family Bond
The clip’s emotional weight lies in Ant and Dec’s 35-year friendship, forged in 1989 and tested by McPartlin’s 2018 addiction struggles and divorce from Lisa Armstrong, per The Guardian. Donnelly’s support—hosting I’m a Celebrity solo and serving as best man in 2021—mirrors McPartlin’s presence at Donnelly’s 2015 wedding, per Daily Mail. Their families are intertwined: McPartlin is godfather to Isla, Donnelly to Wilder, and Jack’s middle name, Anthony, honors McPartlin, per The Independent. The “Uncle Ant” moment builds on Isla cradling Eliza in April 2025, dubbed “the cutest TV moment never filmed,” and their kids’ “real family” bond, per Radio Times.
McPartlin’s fatherhood at 49, with Wilder and reportedly Eliza, and Donnelly’s at 46, with Isla and Jack, has deepened their connection. McPartlin’s BGT breakdown on May 1, 2025, mentioning his kids, and Donnelly’s speech—“Ant’s the best dad, the best friend”—set an emotional backdrop, per Mirror. Donnelly’s letter to Wilder on his first birthday, ending, “You’re the light that brought your dad back to me,” and his BAFTA-skipping hospital visit for Eliza, per Daily Express, frame the clip as a testament to their legacy passing to their children.
Armstrong’s Emotional Context
Lisa Armstrong’s pain adds nuance. Her cryptic January 2025 Instagram post—“Some storms don’t pass”—reflects hurt over McPartlin’s children, after their childless 23-year marriage, per Mirror Online. Her support for Saturday Night Takeaway’s 2024 finale shows resilience, but X users note, “Jack calling Ant ‘Uncle Ant’ is adorable, but it must be tough for Lisa,” per HELLO!. The clip’s private intent, leaked without consent, may have aimed to shield Armstrong, aligning with McPartlin’s discretion about Eliza.
Why It Resonates
The clip’s viral appeal stems from Ant and Dec’s cultural significance, with 23 NTA wins, OBEs, and a 2025 EFL Cup parade, per Chronicle Live. Their late-in-life fatherhood challenges norms, like Simon Cowell’s at 54, and evokes their Byker Grove camaraderie, per Radio Times. The “Uncle Ant” moment, like the kids’ “Rhumble” singing, taps into nostalgia for their 1994 hit, per Independent. X calls for a book series, alongside documentary demands, reflect fans’ desire to see their kids carry the Geordie torch, per Daily Express. A 2025 ITV reunion rumor with Holly Willoughby, sparked by her hospital visit for Eliza, adds buzz, per Radio Times.
Counterarguments and Speculation
The lack of an official Eliza announcement raises doubts, with some X users noting, “No @antanddec post for Eliza—is the clip legit?” McPartlin’s BGT mention supports her existence, but the video’s leak—without verification—risks exaggeration, like the debunked Declan naming rumor, per Wales Online. Jack’s age (2) suggests a simple utterance, not a narrative-defining moment, and the book series idea may be fan-driven hype, though their publishing history supports feasibility, per The Sun. The clip’s limited mainstream coverage indicates niche traction, per Mirror.
Conclusion
Declan Donnelly’s son Jack calling Ant McPartlin “Uncle Ant” in a leaked April 2025 clip from a family gathering has melted fans, sparking calls for a children’s book series about their kids’ adventures. The adorable moment, capturing the bond between Isla, Jack, Wilder, and reportedly Eliza, reflects Ant and Dec’s 35-year friendship, forged in Byker Grove and extended through their “real family.” While Lisa Armstrong’s pain adds complexity, the X frenzy and book series dreams prove Britain’s love for their Geordie legacy. As Ant and Dec navigate Britain’s Got Talent and fatherhood, Jack’s “Uncle Ant” call—whether it becomes a book or not—ensures their story, and their kids’, remains a heartwarming chapter in TV history.
