In a candid conversation on their podcast Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, the beloved TV duo admitted that they both wish they had become fathers earlier in life. With their signature humor and honesty, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed how fatherhood has been the most rewarding experience of their lives.
At 50, Ant became a father for the first time in May 2024, welcoming his son Wilder with wife Anne-Marie Corbett. He also plays the role of stepdad to Anne-Marie’s two teenage daughters. Meanwhile, Dec, also 50, has two young children — daughter Isla, 7, and son Jack, 3 — with wife Ali Astall.
But it’s not all smiles and laughter as they reflect on their journey to parenthood. Both admitted they regret not having children sooner. “It’s the best thing ever,” Dec gushed. “I wish I’d done it earlier. I wish I had 10!” He quickly added, laughing, “Maybe not 10. Maybe three.”
Ant and Dec have both admitted that they wished they had had children earlier in life, calling fatherhood ‘our biggest achievement’
Ant, 50, welcomed his first child with wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 47, in 2024 and is stepdad to her two teenage daughters. Dec , 50, has two young children with his wife, Ali Astall, 47; Pictured in 2021
Ant wholeheartedly agreed, saying, “I’ve got three and I’d have more!” Their honest exchange shows just how deeply fatherhood has changed their lives, making everything they’ve achieved in their careers pale in comparison.
After being asked by a listener about their experiences of fatherhood Dec gushed ‘it’s the best thing ever. I wish I’d done it earlier and I wish I’d had 10’
Ant, who became a stepdad before becoming a biological father, shared how he felt a deep connection to his stepdaughters before Wilder was born. “I feel like I had a great introduction to fatherhood because I got to talk to them straight away. We could go out, and the feedback was immediate,” he said. “And then when Wilder came along, I got to do all the baby stuff that I didn’t get to do with the girls. So, I’ve had the best of both worlds.”
For Dec, becoming a dad to both a girl and a boy has been life-changing. “When they first come along, you don’t realize how much they change your life,” he said. “But for the better. You discover the meaning of life when they arrive.”
Dec even shared his initial worry about whether he could love Jack as much as Isla, saying, “I thought, ‘Am I ever going to love him as much as Isla?’” But he soon realized that love doesn’t get divided – it multiplies. “You get double the love,” he laughed. “You find more love for this other little thing. It’s a whole new level of love.”
The duo both agreed that parenthood is “our biggest achievement” — surpassing anything they’ve achieved professionally. Their reflections on fatherhood were raw, emotional, and filled with gratitude for the joy their children have brought into their lives.
As for Ant’s recent awkward moment with Dec about his love of kissing, well, that’s a different story! In a hilarious yet “icky” moment, Ant revealed how much he loves kissing his wife, which made Dec grimace. “Keep it for the bedroom!” Dec playfully warned, leaving Ant to laugh it off.
But at the end of the day, Ant and Dec agree on one thing: being dads is by far the most rewarding experience of their lives. Their journey to fatherhood has made them better men, and they’re embracing every moment of it.
Ant and Dec: Real Talk About Fatherhood, Love, and the Big Regret of Not Becoming Dads Sooner – It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s a must-listen for anyone who values the magic of becoming a parent! 
