Declan Donnelly, known for his typically clean-shaven appearance, recently revealed a new beard that took him a week to grow, sparking a stir among his fans. The I'm A Celebrity presenter, 50, shared his new look while enjoying time off from work.
However, Donnelly indicated that the rugged look might be temporary, noting he was finding the "itchy phase" difficult. His long-time friend and co-host, Ant McPartlin, playfully mocked the facial hair, joking, "I didn't think it could happen!"
On their podcast Belta Box, McPartlin humorously questioned Donnelly's new look, "Woah, woah, woah. Do you have a beard?" Donnelly explained that he hadn't shaved for about a week due to being off work, resulting in what he described as a "suggestion of a beard."
McPartlin responded with mock surprise, "At last! We thought it couldn't happen. I didn't think it could happen but Dec has grown a beard." He also quipped that Donnelly didn't resemble singer Alfie Boe as much as he had expected.
Donnelly expressed a desire to remove the beard, stating, "I can't wait to get rid of it, I've just entered the itchy phase." Despite his reservations, fans reacted positively in the comments section, with many finding the stubble appealing. Comments included "Dec looks good with the stubble," "Omg it’s real!! I assumed it was a filter!", and "You really suit it Dec."
In separate comments, Donnelly recently spoke out against parents playing loud music from their phones in public, particularly at a playgroup where his three-year-old son Jack was present. He described the behavior as "selfish and rude," emphasizing that people shouldn't impose their music choices on others in shared spaces.
Donnelly, who is married to Ali Astall and is father to daughter Isla, seven, and son Jack, three, also shared reflections on fatherhood. He stated that being a dad is the most rewarding aspect of his life, even more so than his career achievements. At 50, his focus has shifted to maintaining his health to be present for his children as they grow up.