Declan Donnelly gave fans a rare glimpse behind the smile as he became visibly emotional while reading a deeply personal letter to his younger self.
The moving moment came in a preview from Hanging Out With Ant and Dec, the podcast he hosts with his lifelong friend and presenting partner Ant McPartlin. In the clip, Dec looked back at diary entries from 1994, when the pair were still known to many as PJ and Duncan and were beginning to understand just how much their lives were about to change.
What started as a nostalgic trip into the past soon became something far more heartfelt. Reading from a letter written from his 2026 self to the young Declan of the mid-1990s, Dec reflected on fame, friendship, family, anxiety and the overwhelming pace of life when success arrives early.
He joked that the future had not quite delivered hover cars, robot servants or space colonies, before explaining that he had recently found the diary written during one of the most important periods of his life. The memories, he said, reminded him of a time that was exciting, daunting, thrilling and exhausting all at once.
Declan Donnelly broke down in tears as he ressured his pal Ant McPartlin’it will all be OK’ in an emotional letter to his younger self
Ant, 50, has previously shared his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, before going sober after being found guilty of drink-driving in 2018
Dec told his younger self that he and Ant may have thought they were simply heading off on a short adventure, but in reality they had already taken the first steps into a completely different life. Their careers would grow, their world would change and the quiet routines of home would never be quite the same again.
Rather than revealing too much about what was ahead, Dec offered advice shaped by decades of experience. He urged his younger self to grab every opportunity, treasure genuine friendships and remember that the people who truly matter need to be looked after, not taken for granted.
The most touching part of the letter came when Dec spoke about Ant. He said their friendship would endure through every high and low, adding that it was even stronger in 2026 than it had been back in 1994. For fans who have followed the pair from their Byker Grove days to becoming one of Britain’s most famous TV double acts, the words carried real weight.
Dec then struggled to continue as the letter turned to family. He reminded his younger self to go home as often as possible, to appreciate Newcastle and to understand that loved ones would not be around forever. The emotion of that line was clear, with Dec admitting it was the hardest part to read.
In a moving clip from their podcast Hanging Out With Ant and Dec, Declan becomes emotional as he tells his younger self his friendship with Ant will ‘endure through thick and thin’
The letter also carried Dec’s trademark humour. After all the reflections on fame and family, he joked that his younger self should finally buy a hair dryer, teasing the 1990s version of himself for not splashing out on one sooner.
But the final message returned to the heart of the story: friendship. Gathering himself, Dec told his younger self to say hello to 1994 Ant and remind him that he was a great kid. He added that everything would be okay, even when it felt as though it would not.
That line resonated strongly because Ant has spoken openly in the past about difficult personal chapters, his recovery journey and the work he has done to rebuild his life. Through those years, the bond between Ant and Dec has remained a central part of both men’s public story.
Ant has since said he is in one of the happiest periods of his life, finding peace, purpose and stability with his family. Dec has also praised his friend for taking responsibility, doing the work and emerging stronger from challenging times.
Dec shared the letter to his younger self having previously read out entries from his teenage diary which he penned back in 1994 (pictured in 1993)
The TV presenter’s career appeared to be in tatters when he was arrested for drink-driving close to his London home (pictured shortly after the incident)
For viewers, the emotional podcast moment was a reminder that behind decades of entertainment, jokes and Saturday night television history lies a friendship that has been tested, protected and cherished.
Dec’s letter was not just a message to a younger version of himself. It was also a tribute to family, resilience and the kind of friendship that survives fame, pressure and time.
After more than three decades in the public eye, Ant and Dec remain one of British television’s most enduring partnerships. This time, however, it was not a punchline or a big studio moment that moved fans. It was a simple message from one friend to another: look out for each other, enjoy the ride, and believe that it will all be okay.
