Ant McPartlin has had a fan-designed tattoo inked on his arm during the latest episode of his podcast, with co-host Declan Donnelly taking hold of the needle to add his own custom details.
The presenting duo had previously asked listeners to submit tattoo designs for McPartlin to receive. McPartlin hired a tattoo artist to visit his home for the session and insisted Donnelly would not be involved in applying the ink, but Donnelly managed to sneak into the house unannounced to participate.
The chosen artwork paid homage to their Tyneside origins by featuring the Angel of the North statue. As Donnelly took control of the tattoo needle to add his own contribution, McPartlin screamed in horror before the pair unveiled the completed piece on the show.
Newcastle tattoo design
The final tattoo depicts the Angel of the North statue surrounded by a star, alongside a small addition of Donnelly's initials. On the podcast, Donnelly admitted that he had executed the inking while wearing the wrong spectacles.
"It's probably a good time to confess I was wearing my wrong glasses!" Donnelly said. He added: "I certainly did leave my mark!"
McPartlin noted the physical discomfort caused by his co-presenter's contribution, telling him: "Your bit was the most painful by the way!" McPartlin also admitted that when the pair reach the one-year anniversary of their podcast, they might choose a more relaxing celebration, suggesting a "lovely facial" instead.
Background on Ant and Dec
McPartlin, 50, and Donnelly, 50, are among Britain's most prominent television presenters, known collectively as Ant & Dec. The pair first met as child actors on the BBC children's drama series Byker Grove in Newcastle upon Tyne during the 1990s, before forming a lasting broadcasting partnership. Over three decades, they have hosted major flagship UK entertainment programmes including I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Britain's Got Talent, and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
The Angel of the North, featured in the tattoo design, is a famous steel sculpture designed by artist Antony Gormley. Located in Gateshead, near Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England, the 20-metre-tall monument stands as a landmark symbol of the region's cultural heritage.
Existing tattoos and family life
The new piece adds to McPartlin's collection of body art. The presenter already has several tattoos, including the nickname of his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, "Amzie", inscribed across his chest.
In 2024, McPartlin revealed a previously unseen family tree tattoo while announcing the birth of his first child with Corbett. He also bears an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) symbol on his left wrist to mark his personal sobriety.
Last month, McPartlin marked his fifth wedding anniversary with Corbett by sharing a throwback black-and-white photograph on Instagram. The image showed the couple celebrating their wedding day at Heckfield Place, a country house hotel venue in Hampshire.
In the photo, McPartlin wore a tuxedo while Corbett, 47, wore a £15,000 bespoke floor-length gown designed by Suzanne Neville. Alongside the post, McPartlin wrote: "Happy 5th wedding anniversary @mrsanthonymcpartlin. I'd do it all again tomorrow."
Marriage and stepchildren
McPartlin was previously married to makeup artist Lisa Armstrong. The former couple were together for more than two decades and married for 11 years before divorcing in 2020.
McPartlin subsequently married Corbett in August 2021 during a lavish ceremony that reportedly cost £500,000, where Donnelly served as best man. The couple have since welcomed their son Wilder, who is now two years old, and are parents to teenage daughters Poppy and Daisy from Corbett's previous marriage to Scott Corbett.
