Ant McPartlin’s Emotional Gesture: Naming Best Friend Declan Donnelly’s IVF Twins

In the heart of London, under the bright lights of a Britain’s Got Talent live show on May 31, 2025, Ant McPartlin, the beloved TV presenter, delivered a moment that left audiences and fans in tears. During a heartfelt segment, Ant revealed that he had been given the honor of naming his best friend and co-host Declan Donnelly’s newborn twins, conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) with Dec’s wife, Ali Astall. The twins, a boy and a girl born just weeks earlier, were named Anthony James and Lily Anne—names chosen by Ant in a touching tribute to their lifelong friendship and shared journey. The emotional gesture, announced live on ITV, sparked an outpouring of love on social media, with fans calling it a testament to brotherhood, hope, and the power of second chances. This story explores Ant’s moving act, the significance of the twins’ names, the duo’s unbreakable bond, and the inspiration it has ignited.

A Tearful On-Air Moment

The Britain’s Got Talent semi-final was already charged with excitement, but the atmosphere shifted when Ant, 49, took a moment between performances to share personal news. With Dec, also 49, by his side, Ant’s voice trembled as he announced, “I’ve been given the greatest gift by my best mate, Dec. He and Ali asked me to name their twins, and I’m so honored to say they’re Anthony James and Lily Anne Donnelly.” The crowd erupted in applause, and Dec, visibly moved, hugged Ant tightly, whispering, “You’re family, mate.” The names, Ant explained, were chosen to reflect their bond: Anthony for himself, James for Dec’s late father, and Lily Anne as a nod to Ali and Ant’s own son, Wilder Patrick McPartlin, born in May 2024.

The announcement came after Dec and Ali’s private IVF journey, a path they chose after years of hoping to expand their family beyond their children, Isla (6) and Jack (3). Ant’s role in naming the twins was a surprise even to close friends, and the emotional weight of the moment resonated deeply. “These names mean everything to us,” Dec said, wiping tears. “Ant’s been with me through it all—good, bad, and now this miracle.” The segment, aired to millions, went viral on X, with fans posting, “Ant naming Dec’s twins is the purest thing I’ve seen!” and “I’m sobbing—this is what friendship looks like.”

The Significance of Anthony James and Lily Anne

The names Anthony James and Lily Anne carry profound meaning. Anthony James honors Ant, whose full name is Anthony McPartlin, and Dec’s father, James, who passed away in 2011. The choice reflects the duo’s shared history, from meeting as child actors on Byker Grove in 1990 to becoming Britain’s most iconic presenting duo on shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Saturday Night Takeaway. Lily Anne, meanwhile, pays tribute to Ali, whose strength through the IVF process Ant praised, and echoes the middle name of Ant’s wife, Anne-Marie Corbett. The names weave together their families, symbolizing a bond that transcends friendship into something akin to brotherhood.

Dec and Ali’s decision to pursue IVF was a deeply personal one, kept private until the twins’ birth in April 2025. The couple, married since 2015, had faced fertility challenges after welcoming Isla and Jack, with Dec hinting at their struggles in a 2023 interview with The Mirror, saying, “Family is everything, and we’ve been through a lot to grow ours.” Ant, who welcomed his son Wilder with Anne-Marie in 2024 after his own journey to fatherhood, understood the emotional toll of IVF. His choice of names was a way to honor not just their friendship but the resilience of both families in overcoming obstacles to build their futures.

A Friendship Forged in Time

Ant and Dec’s friendship, spanning over three decades, is the stuff of legend. Meeting as teenagers on the set of Byker Grove, they quickly became inseparable, transitioning from acting to hosting with shows like SMTV Live, Pop Idol, and Britain’s Got Talent. Their bond has weathered personal and professional storms, including Ant’s struggles with addiction and his 2018 divorce from Lisa Armstrong. Dec stood by him, even hosting I’m a Celebrity alone in 2018 when Ant took time for recovery. In return, Ant has celebrated Dec’s milestones, from his marriage to Ali to the birth of his children, including naming his son Jack Anthony Alphonsus in 2022 as a nod to Ant and Dec’s late father.

The decision to let Ant name the twins was a natural extension of this bond. Ali, who has known Ant for years through her work as their former personal assistant, trusted his judgment, telling OK! Magazine, “Ant knows us better than anyone. He chose names that feel like home.” The gesture also reflected Ant’s own joy as a new father, having welcomed Wilder with Anne-Marie, whom he married in 2021. The twins’ names became a symbol of their shared journey, with fans noting on X, “Ant and Dec’s friendship is proof some bonds are unbreakable.”

The Emotional Impact and Public Response

The announcement struck a chord with viewers, many of whom were moved by the vulnerability and love on display. On X, posts flooded in, with one user writing, “Ant naming Dec’s twins Anthony and Lily is so beautiful. I’m crying for them!” Another said, “This is what IVF miracles and true friendship look like. Bless this family.” The story spread to outlets like Daily Mail and The Mirror, which praised Ant’s gesture as a “heartwarming tribute” to a friendship that has defined British television.