Happy Birthday to Dec Donnelly, who turns 43 today
Ant McPartlin has wished his TV partner and best pal Dec Donnelly a happy birthday with this hilarious message, following what's been a hard year for the presenters.
Ant tweeted a photo of Dec pretending to wear a red and black polka-dot flamenco dress, along with the caption: "Happy Birthday from the big one to the little one! A"
The sweet message comes after Ant also recently shared a photo that showed how much healthier and happier he is following six months of sobriety.
Ant has had to step away from presenting duties with Dec after he was caught crashing into the back of a car while under the influence of alcohol earlier this year. This meant that Ant was unable to finish presenting the series of Saturday Night Takeaway running at the time.
GALLERY: Take a quick look at Ant & Dec's TV career from the start...
Ant and Dec's career timeline (slider)
1 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec as PJ and DuncanIn 1989 Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – PJ and Duncan was born.Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.
2 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec became popstarsIt wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 Let's Get Ready to Rhumble.Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.
3 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec hosted SMTV and CD
4 of 8Ant & Dec: Primetime career
They hit the prime time with talent show Pop IdolThey presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which is about begin its 13th series.In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show.
5 of 8Ant & Dec: Awards
Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment/TV Presenter for 15 years running. Most recently, at the 2018 NTAs, the duo won Best Presenter.
6 of 8Ant & Dec: Relationships
In 2015 Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall and Ant was, of course, best man. And in July 2006, Dec acted as best man at Ant's wedding to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong. Ant and Lisa, however, filed for divorce this year after 11 years of marriage.
7 of 8Ant & Dec: Friendship
Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.He said: "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine: "We made a pact. We said to each other, 'Look, whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and you're never in this life on your own or against the world – you've always got a mate looking out for you."Even though they work together, Ant & Dec make sure they go out together at least once a week – and even live three doors apart in London!Dec said: "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground."Ant added: "We love each other, definitely."
8 of 8Ant & Dec: Britain's Got Talent
Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million.
It also means that Ant won't take part in this year's I'm A Celebrity, and he will be temporarily replaced by This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby!
Ant is thought to be in a much better space and he has taken to social media a few times over the last few weeks, perhaps to mark a slow but strong return to the limelight?
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Holly Willoughby presents I'm A Celebrity
It was recently announced that Holly Willoughby will present this year's I'm A Celebrity. In a statement, Holly said: "I could not be more excited to have been asked to stand alongside Dec for the next jungle adventure. I love Ant and want to send him my best wishes and support for a continue recovery. These are big shoes not to fill, but to keep warm for a little bit. Honestly, I'm a huge fan of I'm A Celebrity and actually feel like I've won a competition to go and hang out on my favourite show! When is it a good time to tell Dec I'm scared of everything that moves? "