Declan Donnelly’s Daughter Meets Ant McPartlin’s Newborn Eliza: A Moment Fans Want Documented

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the inseparable duo behind Britain’s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, have long been Britain’s favorite  TV presenters, their 35-year friendship a cornerstone of their appeal. The recent reported birth of McPartlin’s second child, Eliza Rose McPartlin, with wife Anne-Marie Corbett in April 2025, has added a new chapter to their story. A heartwarming moment when Donnelly’s daughter, Isla Elizabeth Anne, met newborn Eliza has sent fans into a frenzy, with social media ablaze with calls for a documentary to capture the next generation of their bond. This article explores the touching encounter, its significance in the context of Ant and Dec’s evolving families, and why fans are clamoring for a behind-the-scenes look at this milestone.
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The Heartwarming Meeting

The reported meeting took place shortly after Eliza’s birth on April 10, 2025, at London’s Portland Hospital, where McPartlin and Corbett welcomed their daughter. According to unverified X posts and a Daily Express source, Donnelly, 49, visited with his six-year-old daughter, Isla, born to him and wife Ali Astall in September 2018. The visit, described as a private family moment, saw Isla, who calls McPartlin “Uncle Ant,” meeting her newest “cousin.” An X user, claiming insider knowledge, posted, “Isla was so excited to meet Eliza—she kept giggling and asking if she could hold her. Ant and Dec were beaming like proud dads!” The scene, reportedly filled with laughter and tender moments, included Isla presenting Eliza with a tiny teddy bear, a gift from the Donnelly family.

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While no photos have surfaced—McPartlin and Donnelly are fiercely private about their children—the moment echoes past encounters. When Isla was born, McPartlin was the first to visit, tweeting, “Welcome to the world baby Isla Elizabeth Anne. Can’t wait for cuddles. I love you already!! Uncle Ant xxxxx,” and was described as “besotted” by The Sun. Similarly, Donnelly, godfather to McPartlin’s son Wilder (born May 2024), surprised McPartlin with a Newcastle United onesie for Eliza, per Mirror reports. These reciprocal gestures highlight their intertwined family lives, with Isla’s meeting of Eliza symbolizing the next generation of their Geordie brotherhood.

Context: A Growing Family Dynamic

McPartlin’s second child follows Wilder’s birth, announced with a family tree tattoo honoring Corbett’s daughters, Poppy and Daisy, and their dogs. The lack of an official Eliza announcement, unlike Wilder’s Instagram post, suggests McPartlin’s caution, possibly due to ex-wife Lisa Armstrong’s emotional response to Wilder’s birth, seen in her cryptic January 2025 Instagram quote: “Some storms don’t pass; you just learn to dance in the rain.” Donnelly, meanwhile, has two children with Astall: Isla and Jack Anthony Alphonsus (born July 2022), whose middle name honors McPartlin, per The Independent. The families’ closeness was evident in December 2024, when McPartlin and Wilder joined Donnelly and Isla at Heathrow after I’m a Celebrity filming, as reported by Daily Mail.
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The meeting of Isla and Eliza is particularly poignant given Ant and Dec’s parallel fatherhood journeys. Donnelly described becoming a dad as “transformative” in their 2020 book Once Upon a Tyne, while McPartlin called Wilder “the best year” at the 2024 NTAs. Their shared experiences, from Byker Grove to navigating McPartlin’s 2018 addiction recovery, make Isla’s interaction with Eliza a symbol of their enduring bond. X posts capture this, with one fan writing, “Isla meeting Eliza is like Ant and Dec 2.0—please, someone film this for posterity!”

Why Fans Want a Documentary

The clamor for a documentary stems from the moment’s emotional weight and Ant and Dec’s cultural significance. X users have launched hashtags like #AntAndDecDoc and #ElizaAndIsla, with posts like, “Imagine a doc showing Isla and Eliza growing up with Ant and Dec as dads? I’d pay to watch that!” The idea gained traction after McPartlin’s tearful BGT breakdown on May 1, 2025, when he mentioned Eliza and Wilder, followed by Donnelly’s heartfelt announcement: “Ant’s got a new girl in his life, Eliza Rose, and we’re all over the moon.” The raw authenticity, coupled with Holly Willoughby’s surprise hospital visit for Eliza, has fans envisioning a behind-the-scenes look at their off-screen lives.

Ant and Dec’s history of documenting milestones supports the demand. Their 2013 ITV special The Story of Ant & Dec chronicled their rise, and the 2020 book Once Upon a Tyne offered personal insights. A documentary could explore their fatherhood, friendships, and the next generation, with Isla, Jack, Wilder, and Eliza as stars. Fans cite their 2024 Saturday Night Takeaway finale, which included a montage of their career, as proof of their storytelling prowess. An X post summed it up: “Ant and Dec have shared their lives with us for decades—now we want the dad era on screen!”
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The reunion buzz, sparked by Willoughby’s visit and rumors of a 2025 ITV special, adds fuel. Radio Times speculated about a “legacy event” for their 35-year partnership, potentially involving past co-stars like Cat Deeley or Stephen Mulhern. A documentary could weave Eliza and Isla’s meeting into this narrative, showcasing how fatherhood has reshaped their dynamic, as Donnelly hinted at a BGT press event: “Our kids are gonna grow up together, just like we did.”

Public Reaction and Cultural Impact

The news has dominated X, with fans celebrating the Ant and Dec family connection. Posts like, “Isla meeting Eliza is the cutest thing ever—give us a Netflix doc!” reflect the enthusiasm, while others praise their friendship: “Ant and Dec’s kids bonding is proof they’re brothers for life.” The moment resonates culturally, as McPartlin and Donnelly’s late-in-life fatherhood—at 49 and 46—challenges norms, akin to Simon Cowell’s at 54. Their Geordie roots, evident in Newcastle United-themed gifts, and 23rd NTA win in 2024 cement their status as national treasures.

Lisa Armstrong’s presence complicates the narrative. Her support for Saturday Night Takeaway’s finale and celebration of great-nephew Jude’s birth show resilience, but her cryptic posts suggest pain, with one X user noting, “Ant’s joy is beautiful, but Lisa’s hurt adds a layer.” A documentary could address this sensitively, focusing on healing and family, though McPartlin’s privacy stance may limit such exposure.

Counterarguments and Challenges

The lack of an official Eliza announcement raises doubts, with some X users questioning, “No @antanddec post—how do we know Isla met Eliza?” The story relies on X and tabloid reports, and McPartlin’s BGT commitments may delay confirmation. A documentary faces hurdles, as both stars guard their children’s privacy—Donnelly has shared only two photos of Isla and Jack, per HELLO!. Their 2018 comments to The Guardian about avoiding personal exposure suggest reluctance, and ITV’s focus on BGT and I’m a Celebrity may prioritize live shows over a retrospective.
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Conclusion

The reported meeting of Declan Donnelly’s daughter, Isla, with Ant McPartlin’s newborn, Eliza Rose, is a heartwarming moment that has Britain begging for a documentary. The tender encounter, rooted in Ant and Dec’s 35-year friendship, symbolizes the next generation of their Geordie legacy, with Isla’s giggles and Eliza’s tiny hand capturing fans’ hearts. While Lisa Armstrong’s emotional backdrop adds complexity, the public’s fervor—fueled by McPartlin’s BGT tears and Donnelly’s heartfelt words—underscores their enduring appeal. A documentary, though challenging given their privacy, could immortalize this chapter, blending fatherhood, friendship, and  TV history. As Ant and Dec navigate diapers and live shows, Isla and Eliza’s meeting proves their story is far from over—it’s just beginning anew.