Declan Donnelly, one half of the British television duo Ant and Dec, has voiced his disapproval of parents who play music loudly from their mobile phones at children's playgroups. Donnelly, 50, shared his experience on the "Ant and Dec's Hanging Out" podcast, describing the behavior as "selfish and rude."
Donnelly recounted an incident at a playgroup where a parent was playing music from her phone while others were attempting to focus on emails. He stated that this individual was "playing music to herself while everybody else is doing their emails." He identified the music as "chart pop music."
His co-host, Anthony McPartlin, agreed with Donnelly's assessment, calling the behavior "selfish." The pair discussed the broader issue of playing music without headphones in public. Donnelly asserted, "You can't inflict your music on everybody else."
McPartlin drew a distinction between hearing music incidentally in public spaces, which he finds acceptable, and the more intrusive act of playing music loudly in a confined setting. "Like not if you're on a bus or something and someone's playing their music without their headphones on, then you're like, 'Oh, shut up.' Or on a train or whatever, public transport," McPartlin said. However, he added, "But you know when you're walking around and you hear music if you're in town, I like that."
Donnelly, who shares daughter Isla, seven, and son Jack, three, with his wife Ali Astall, reflected on his role as a father. He previously stated on Fearne Cotton's "Happy Place" podcast that he regretted not starting a family earlier and that his current priority is maintaining his health to be present for his children as they grow up. He described fatherhood as the "most rewarding thing" and wished he had become a father sooner, emphasizing its importance over his career achievements. Donnelly and McPartlin are both 50, and Donnelly expressed a desire to remain healthy and active for his children.
McPartlin is father to Wilder, aged one, with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, and is also a stepfather to her two teenage daughters. Both presenters have spoken about the joys and challenges of parenting. Donnelly, in particular, emphasized the profound impact of fatherhood on his life, stating, "Everything we've ever achieved in our career, does not hold a candle to being a dad."