Declan Donnelly has struggled to hold back tears when sharing a letter he wrote to his younger self.
The TV presenter rose to fame alongside Ant McPartlin in 1989 on the series Byker Grove.
Earlier this year, the pair launched their podcast Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, with the latest episode seeing him offer advice to a younger version of himself.
“This might be a hard bit,” he said while holding back tears in a preview for the episode, in which his co-host replied, ”I bet”.
“Say hi to 1994 Ant for me. Tell him to remember he’s a great kid, and it will all be OK. Even when it feels like it won’t. Look out for each other, enjoy the ride and hey, respect guys. Love from future Dec!.”
In the episode, Donnelly went on to reflect on how his early career felt “exciting and exhilarating, yet daunting and bewildering, thrilling and intoxicating, yet intense and exhausting”.
Speaking to his younger self, he continued: “I know you think you and Ant have left to go on a bit of an adventure for a few weeks, but you don’t realise it yet. You’ve both pretty much left home now, and your lives will never return to how they have been. But it turned out alright, guys.
“I don’t want to reveal too much of what happens next, because you need to live the next adventure ahead, and experience the highs and lows, and the lessons they will teach you. Those lessons will make you the man you are today.”
Donnelly then went on to give his younger self various pieces of advice, including to “grab every opportunity that comes your way and give it your all”, “treasure the true friendships you make”, “go home as much as you can”, and to “buy a flippin hairdryer”.
Reflecting on his decades-long friendship with McPartlin, Donnelly also told his younger self it would “endure thick and thin”, and was “even stronger in 2026”.
Wrapping up his letter, Donnelly also told his younger self to “buy Tesla, Apple and loads of Bitcoin”.
After rising to fame on the children’s series Byker Grove, Ant & Dec embarked on a music career as PJ & Duncan, before going on to launch presenting careers.
In the years since, they have fronted shows including SMTV Live, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win.
They have won the National Television award for best presenter a record 23 times.
