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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Francesca Edwards

Doting dad Declan Donnelly takes daughter Isla out for a family bike ride

Declan Donnelly made a rare appearance with his daughter this week as the family took her for a bike ride.

The presenter, who is one half of Ant and Dec, became a dad to Isla at the end of 2018, but has rarely been pictured with her in public.

Dec, 44 and his wife Ali Astall, were spotted on a family outing with Isla strapped into a child seat on the back of the telly star's bike .

Safety came first for the family as they all donned black helmets and Dec and Ali also wore face masks.

The trio was pictured riding happily through Kew in south-west London.

Declan Donnelly goes for a family cycle ride in Kew (TIM ANDERSON)

I’m A Celebrity host Dec has spoken regularly about how much he loves being a dad.

In his recent book with Ant, Once Upon A Tyne, he gushed about how becoming a father "transformed" him.

He wrote: "At first, like all expectant parents, I didn’t truly understand how much it was going to change me.

"I just thought it was another little person coming to live in the house. It opened up a whole other side to me, a side I didn’t know existed.

Dec rode with Isla on his bike and his wife Ali followed behind (TIM ANDERSON)

"I felt a love that I didn’t realise it was possible to feel. Everything I do, every day, is for my daughter now."

But it isn’t without his challenges as he last year he admitted how hard being a parent can be.

Dec said: “No one tells you how hard being a parent is.

“We could have had a warning. It is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m loving it.”

(TIM ANDERSON)

Dec married his and Ant’s talent manager Ali in 2015 after the pair reportedly starting dating in 2013 with a Valentine’s Day dinner.

Ali was Ant and Dec’s manager for 10 years before romance blossomed.

As well as dealing with the Saturday Night Takeaway hosts, she works with a number of famous faces, from Fearne Cotton to Holly Willoughby.

Speaking about their romance Dec said: “We always hung out. When she was single, and I was single we’d go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day together.

Dec's wife Ali followed them on her own bike (TIM ANDERSON)

“Last year we went out as a couple. It was a little strange because we’ve had a working relationship for so long."

They became first-time parents in 2018 when Ali gave birth to their daughter Isla.

Dec announced the happy news on Instagram, writing: “Ali and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our baby girl, Isla Elizabeth Anne, who was born just after 9 o’clock this morning.

"Mother and daughter both doing well, Dad is head over heels!"

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