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Declan Donnelly

Declan Joseph Oliver "Dec" Donnelly also known as Duncan born September 25, 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England ) is one half of the English acting and television presenting duo "Ant & Dec" alongside Ant McPartlin. He came to prominence in the children's drama series Byker Grove and as one half of the pop duo PJ & Duncan. He has regularly appeared on British television from Top of the Pops to the 2002 Tribute to The Likely Lads.

Early life

Declan is the youngest of seven children he has three brothers called Martin, Eamonn and Dermott and three sisters called Patricia, Moira and Camelia. His parents Anne and Alphonsus. Originally from Northern Ireland, his family moved to Newcastle and bought a house in Cruddas Park in 1988.

He attended St Michael's Roman Catholic Primary School and St Cuthbert's High School, which he left with 8 GCSEs.

The part of Duncan on Byker Grove was his first TV appearance at the age of 12. Donnelly saw an advert in a local newspaper stating that a new children's TV show would be filmed in Newcastle and was looking for young actors. It was his father who initially suggested that he audition. At first Donnelly said 'Nah', then later he rang the producer and asked for an audition. He met his TV partner Ant McPartlin on the set of Byker Grove.

TV career

Ant and Dec soon became the famous duo we know today, who host the ITV Saturday night show Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, an entertainment show in which the duo compete against each other and the audience can win prizes. McPartlin and Donnelly also host ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of here! and reality TV show in which celebrities are placed in the jungle and have to compete to win the show. They also host another ITV show Britain's Got Talent which is a talent search to find an act to perform at the Royal Variety Show in front of the Royal Family.

Personal life

Declan was in an 11 year romance with Clare Buckfield, an English actress, but split because of the pressure of their workloads. Rumours of a third party involvement were immediately denied, but the pair remain friends.

At Ant's wedding to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong, Dec was his best man.

On 13 July, 2008, tabloid newspaper the Daily Star claimed that Donnelly was due to propose to his new girlfriend, Poppy Middleditch, who is a member of a new band The Tumbling Dice. This was then reported to be untrue with a report of a split. It was rumoured Poppy had been seeing her ex boyfriend.

Awards

McPartlin and Donnelly have won a considerable number of awards over the years for their television work, as well as awards for Best New Act during their singing career.

They have gained:

The Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards for their contribution to television (at the young age of 27).
Best Entertainment Presenter at the National Television Awards for the past six years.
Best Entertainment Programme for Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway several times at the NTA's.
Best Reality TV Programme for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Pop Idol at the NTA's.
The TV Times Awards for Presenters and Entertainment Programme.
They have also won six awards to date at the British Comedy Awards.
The 2006 Newcastle Supporters Association, "Favourite Jacket Wearers" award.