Declan Donnelly's Well-Known Former Partners: Brief Affair with Grange Hill Star Following 'Painful' Breakup from Presenter - OK! Magazine
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Declan Donnelly, one half of the popular Ant and Dec pair, has experienced a variety of romantic relationships before finding his soulmate in his wife, Ali Astall.
Prior to Ali, Dec was romantically linked to several high-profile individuals in the entertainment world, such as a Grange Hill actress and a Sky News anchor.
Dec's first significant relationship was with Clare Buckfield, who is known for her performances in 2point4 Children and CBBC's Grange Hill.
In 2003, due to demanding work schedules, they decided to separate. However, at that time, Dec did not completely rule out the possibility of reuniting.
Following his split with Clare, rumour had it that Dec was in a relationship with several celebrities, including television hosts Sarah Cawood and Diana Stewart.
Afterward, he was in a relationship with Georgie Thompson, a Sky Sports anchor, for two years. Despite their heartbreaking split, they succeeded in maintaining their friendship.
In 2012, rumours indicated that Dec had a short-lived romance with Pussycat Dolls' Ashley Roberts, following their getting to know each other during her time on I'm A Celebrity.
Ashley once stated she would like to know Dec better and it would be nice to have a drink and chat with him.
However, this rumoured relationship didn't last long and they managed to remain friends. Ashley was one of the guests at Dec's wedding in 2015.
A year later, after his rumoured affair with Ashley, Dec fell in love with Ali, his manager for a decade.
The pair immediately built a professional rapport in 2003, when Ali accompanied Dec and Ant McPartlin to Australia for the shooting of the I'm A Celeb's debut season.
Dec confessed that while they were always close, the thought of starting a romantic relationship was off the cards due to work commitments. They also used to dine together on Valentine's Day when both were single.
A source explained that the pair have loved each other for years and it's only recently that they decided to embrace their relationship publicly.
Another source disclosed that Ali had been in love with Dec for a long time and she remained single as she waited for him to commit.
The Mirror was the first to announce their engagement in November 2014. Dec proposed to Ali in Australia during the filming of I'm A Celeb.
Friends described them as being totally in love, adding that they've been best friends for a long time.
Dec and Ali exchanged their vows in August 2015 at a high-profile ceremony in Newcastle, presided over by his brother, Father Dermott Donnelly.
Ant, Dec's best friend, played the role of the best man. The guest list featured celebrities like Fearne Cotton, Paddy McGuinness, Philip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Andi Peters, Leigh Francis, Vernon Kay, and Tess Daly.
The couple is now parents to two children. Their daughter, Isla Elizabeth Anne, was born in 2018, and their son, Jack, was born in 2022.