Ant McPartlin has landed in Australia, buzzing with excitement for the upcoming instalment of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! – a jewel in the crown of television entertainment. As the likes of Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones venture into the renowned jungle for this series, Ant reunites with his trusty sidekick Declan Donnelly, marking their 22nd year together at the helm.
But despite the professional high, he may feel the tug of home more sharply this year; with his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett and their six-month-old son, Wilder, staying back in Britain, a source told OK! just how challenging the distance will be for Ant. "Ant is feeling really emotional about being so far away from Anne-Marie and Wilder. It's the longest he has left them for and it's going to be so difficult," the source disclosed. Last May saw a new chapter begin for 48 year old Ant, as Anne-Marie - who has two daughters from previous relationships - welcomed their little boy into the world. In a heart-warming Instagram announcement featuring him with the newborn, Ant shared: "Welcome to the family, Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54 am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess! ".
Ant McPartlin, who married his former personal assistant Anne-Marie in a lavish 2021 ceremony at St Michael's Church in Heckfield, shares a special connection with her two daughters, Daisy and Poppy. He's even got a tattoo tribute to the trio on his bicep. Despite the recent whirlwind of parenting a newborn, with all the sleepless nights and endless nappies, Ant is about to embark on a three-week stint in Australia for work. This job, which he adores, comes with the challenge of being away from his young family during a time of precious milestones.
A source revealed: "Anne-Marie and Ant are going to stay in constant communication and FaceTime lots, but he is worried about the time difference. When he wakes up, Anne Marie will have put Wilder to bed, so, it's tough to navigate. Ant has made sure Anne Marie has a strong support system back home and he knows Wilder will be safe with his mum, he will just be missing them a lot."
Despite the pain of leaving his family behind, Ant is comforted by the support and friendly banter from his best mate, Dec, who is accompanied by his wife, Ali Astall, and their two children, Isla, six, and Jack, two, in Australia. A source close to them revealed: "Dec is so supportive, and Ant gets on so well with Ali and the kids so it's like he's got his second family over there. They’re so close".
Upon touching down in Australia last week, Ant couldn't hide his excitement, saying: "I can't wait for the show to begin, it's an incredible cast. It'll be nice to be reunited with Dec and it'll be nice to see him. It will be nice to be reunited with him, he’s had a family holiday. It will be nice to see his tan lines. We will run towards each other on the beach in open arms."
Not wasting any time, Ant was spotted enjoying breakfast with Dec and his family the next day as they soaked up the Gold Coast sun before I’m A Celeb started. If their bond wasn't strong enough already, Ant confessed earlier this year that he has been receiving some solid parenting advice from Dec. However, Dec jokingly responded: "I do share tips and things. They're very bad. My tips are normally: give the baby to somebody else! That's it."
From babies to bushtucker trials, the iconic duo have been at the helm of the reality show since its inception in 2002, and this year's series is set to be jam-packed with even more nail-biting trials, juicy celeb drama and top-notch entertainment. Joining WAG Coleen and McFly's Danny on the adventure are GK Barry, Tulisa, Barry McGuigan, Melvin Odoom, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, and Dean McCullough, with Love Island's Maura Higgins and presenter Reverend Richard Coles tipped to join as latecomers.
A source close to Ant revealed his excitement about the star-studded line-up, which fans are calling 'the best yet': "Ant loves I'm A Celeb so much and is so dedicated to the show, it is always a highlight in his year. it was bittersweet leaving but he is also so excited for the new series. He loves football and is so happy they've got Coleen Rooney in this year, he thinks this line-up could be the best they've had in a long time so he's focusing on that and is happy to be back."