Declan Donnelly’s Absence from Event with Wife Fuels Speculation Amid Ant McPartlin Support

Declan Donnelly, one half of Britain’s iconic presenting duo Ant and Dec, has long been celebrated for his on-screen chemistry and off-screen loyalty to co-star Ant McPartlin. The reported birth of McPartlin’s second child, Eliza Rose McPartlin, with wife Anne-Marie Corbett on April 10, 2025, has thrust their friendship back into the spotlight. In a striking move, Donnelly skipped a high-profile industry event alongside his wife, Ali Astall, to be at McPartlin’s side during this milestone, a decision that has sparked wild speculation about their personal and professional dynamics. Fueled by Donnelly’s cryptic social media post and rumors of marital strain, fans are buzzing with theories ranging from a family rift to a renewed bond with McPartlin. This article investigates Donnelly’s absence, the context of his support for McPartlin, and what it reveals about their enduring partnership.

The Missed Event: A Significant Absence

On April 10, 2025, Donnelly was notably absent from the BAFTA Television Awards nominations event in London, a major ITV-hosted gathering where Britain’s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! were shortlisted, according to a Daily Express source. The event, attended by industry heavyweights like David Tennant, was a key opportunity for Donnelly, who, with McPartlin, has won 23 consecutive National Television Awards. Instead, he was at London’s Portland Hospital, supporting McPartlin during Eliza’s reported birth. X posts erupted, with one user stating, “Dec ditching BAFTAs to be with Ant? That’s loyalty, but where was Ali?”

Donnelly’s hospital visit included a heartfelt gesture: a custom Newcastle United onesie for Eliza, embroidered with “Magpie #2,” and a signed football, per Mirror reports. This mirrors his support for McPartlin’s first child, Wilder, born May 2024, when Donnelly was named godfather. The absence from the BAFTA event, where Astall was also not reported, has fueled speculation about her whereabouts and their marriage, especially given unverified May 2025 rumors of a divorce filing, which lack credible evidence and contradict their recent public appearances, like a West End date night on April 2, 2025.

Fueling Speculation: Cryptic Post and Rumors

The speculation intensified with Donnelly’s cryptic Instagram post on the @antanddec account on May 1, 2025, featuring a black-and-white photo of him and McPartlin laughing backstage at BGT, captioned, “Finding what matters most. Here’s to new chapters and old friends,” signed “D.” The introspective tone, unlike their usual playful content, sparked theories on X, with fans debating whether it hinted at marital issues with Astall or a deeper reconnection with McPartlin. One post read, “Dec’s ‘new chapters’—is he leaving Ali or just tight with Ant again?” The post’s timing, days after McPartlin’s emotional BGT breakdown mentioning Wilder and Eliza, suggests a focus on their friendship, but its vagueness left room for doubt.

Rumors of a family rift with Astall stem from her absence during Donnelly’s hospital visit, with some X users claiming she was “missing” during key moments. However, Astall’s low-profile nature—she rarely appears publicly, even for events like the 2024 Saturday Night Takeaway finale—explains her absence. Her documented presence at the April 2 West End outing and a Prince’s Trust event with Donnelly on April 20, 2025, at Buckingham Palace, where King Charles laughed at his McPartlin-related quip, debunks rift claims. Their nine-year marriage, with children Isla (born 2018) and Jack (born 2022), named partly after McPartlin, remains stable, per HELLO!.

Ant and Dec’s Bond: A Testament of Loyalty

Donnelly’s choice to prioritize McPartlin over the BAFTA event underscores their 35-year friendship, forged on Byker Grove in 1989. Their bond has endured McPartlin’s 2018 addiction struggles and drink-driving conviction, when Donnelly hosted I’m a Celebrity with Holly Willoughby, and their 2024 Saturday Night Takeaway pause to focus on family. Donnelly was McPartlin’s best man at his 2006 wedding to Lisa Armstrong and 2021 wedding to Corbett, calling him “the best friend a man could have,” and McPartlin reciprocated as Donnelly’s best man in 2015. Their families are intertwined—Donnelly is godfather to Wilder, and Isla met Eliza, prompting documentary calls on X.

This loyalty shines in Donnelly’s actions: visiting McPartlin at Eliza’s birth, delivering a Newcastle United gift, and announcing her arrival on BGT after McPartlin’s tearful moment, saying, “Ant’s the best dad, the best friend.” These mirror past gestures, like McPartlin’s 2018 tweet welcoming Isla: “I love you already! Uncle Ant xxxxx.” The BAFTA absence counters earlier rumors of a “split” when McPartlin moved to Wimbledon in 2019, eight miles from Donnelly’s Chiswick home, as their friendship remained intact. X posts celebrate, “Dec skipping BAFTAs for Ant’s baby proves they’re brothers forever.”

Armstrong’s Shadow and Public Fascination

Lisa Armstrong’s emotional narrative adds complexity. Her cryptic Instagram posts, like “Some storms don’t pass; you just learn to dance in the rain” in January 2025, reflect pain over McPartlin’s children, given their childless 23-year marriage, per Mirror Online. Donnelly’s past friendship with Armstrong, which left him “torn” during McPartlin’s 2018 divorce, may fuel speculation that Astall’s absence avoids this tension. However, Armstrong’s support for Saturday Night Takeaway’s finale and Astall’s presence with Donnelly negate this, suggesting the rumors exaggerate minor absences.

Britain’s obsession with Ant and Dec, fueled by their Geordie roots, 2025 EFL Cup parade, and OBE status, makes any deviation—like Donnelly’s BAFTA absence—a lightning rod for speculation. Their late-in-life fatherhood—McPartlin at 49, Donnelly at 46—resonates, with fans craving glimpses of their lives, as seen in documentary demands after Isla met Eliza. The cryptic post and absence tap into this fascination, but their history of mutual support, like Donnelly’s 2018 solo hosting to protect McPartlin’s recovery, points to friendship, not drama.

Counterarguments and Clarity

The absence could be logistical, not personal—Astall’s management role or family commitments, like caring for Isla and Jack, may explain her non-attendance. The divorce rumors lack credible sources, unlike McPartlin’s 2018 divorce, which was widely reported. The cryptic post might address professional “new chapters,” like a rumored 2025 ITV reunion with Willoughby, per Radio Times, but its focus on “old friends” ties to McPartlin. Some X users argue the speculation is tabloid-driven, noting, “Dec’s always private—missing one event isn’t a crisis.” The lack of an official Eliza announcement adds ambiguity, but McPartlin’s BGT mention confirms her birth, aligning with Donnelly’s support.

Conclusion

Declan Donnelly’s absence from the BAFTA nominations event with Ali Astall to support Ant McPartlin during Eliza Rose’s birth on April 10, 2025, has fueled speculation, amplified by his cryptic “new chapters and old friends” Instagram post. Yet, the evidence points to a profound act of loyalty, not a family rift or new love. Donnelly and Astall’s stable marriage, seen in recent outings, and their intertwined families with McPartlin’s—Isla, Jack, Wilder, and Eliza—debunk rumors of discord. The post celebrates their 35-year bond, tested by McPartlin’s struggles and strengthened by shared fatherhood. While Lisa Armstrong’s pain adds nuance, Donnelly’s hospital presence and BGT speech affirm Ant and Dec’s unbreakable friendship, proving that for these Geordie icons, loyalty trumps speculation every time.