has confirmed the birth of his second child, a baby boy, with wife Ali Astall – just two weeks after the sudden death of his older brother.
The TV presenter confirmed the surprise birth in an Instagram post shared with followers on Sunday evening and revealed they had named the child Jack Anthony Alphonsus.
The newborn child’s name is in part a tribute to Dec’s long-term presenting partner Ant McPartlin and his Northern Irish father, Alphonsus Donnelly, who passed away in 2011 after battling cancer.
News of the birth comes as the TV personality, 46, grieves the loss of his Roman Catholic priest brother Dermott following his unexpected death at the age of 55 on July 8.
Happy news: Declan Donnelly has confirmed the birth of his second child, a baby boy, with wife Ali Astall – just two weeks after the sudden death of his older brother
Taking to his social media platforms, Dec – who also raises three-year old daughter Isla with his wife – wrote: ‘Shortly before 10am yesterday, 23.7.2022, Ali and I welcomed the arrival of our son, Jack Anthony Alphonsus, a very welcome ray of light.
‘He is wonderful and Isla is beyond excited to be a big sister.’
Dec accompanied the message with a photo of his newborn son’s tiny hand clutching onto his finger.
is set to lay his beloved brother to rest at a funeral next Friday after racing to be by his sibling Father Dermott Donnelly’s side after he collapsed earlier this month.
The priest’s death was later confirmed by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
Friends and family of Father Donnelly, who died at the age of 55, will gather in Newcastle next week to bid an emotional farewell and pay their respects.
Paying respects: Declan Donnelly, 46, is set to lay his beloved brother to rest at a funeral next Friday before flying off to film I’m A Celebrity (pictured in May)
In addition to loved ones from Dec’s parents’ native Ireland, priests and https://www.spacelaunchreport.com/ clerics from across how Dec – one half of the presenting duo Ant and Dec – had returned to the north east of England to join his family at Father Dermott’s bedside.
They told how the priest’s loved ones had been praying that he would ‘pull through’ after becoming ‘extremely unwell’ in hospital.
The source said: ‘Dec arrived with other family members.There are around 12 of them there at the hospital.’
Father Dermott conducted Dec’s wedding to Ali Astall in 2015 in front of a star-studded guest list, which included the star’s TV sidekick Ant McPartlin and presenter Dermot O’Leary.
The parish priest from County Durham was also recently pictured outside 10 Downing Street after being invited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to join religious leaders to pray for peace in Ukraine.
