They’ve been close pals since working together on Byker Grove in the 1990s.
And Ant McPartlin, 44, showed he was every inch the proud uncle as he doted on Declan Donnelly’s two-year-old daughter during a candid radio chat on Monday.
During the interview, Dec also sweetly revealed that little Isla calls him ‘Dec Dec’ after his wife Ali Astall, 42, taught the youngster to say ‘daddy Dec’.
Close pals: Ant McPartlin showed he was every inch the proud uncle as he doted on Declan Donnelly’s two-year-old daughter Isla during a candid radio chat on Monday
While chatting on Steve and Karen’s Breakfast Show on TFM, the duo discussed Isla and how Ant gets stuck in with the fun when he visits.
Ant said: ‘I haven’t done a nappy. I was round yours the other day. We were doing a lot of playing in the garden – she’s absolutely beautiful.’
Also during the show, Dec revealed his little girl had started speaking and had recently learned how to say his name.
‘She has just turned two a couple of weeks ago, running around and talking – we are getting words out of her,’ he said.
Oh baby! Dec announced his and Ali’s little girl Isla had been born on Instagram, saying he was already ‘head over heels’ for his daughter
The proud dad then revealed: ‘My wife has taught her to say daddy Dec, she just shouts Dec, Dec.’
However the doting father added that he’s not been a fan of changing little Isla’s nappies, joking that it’s ‘a whole new world’.
He said: ‘I take her near Ali and say “I think she’s done a poo, you better go and check”, but you do everything it takes to avoid doing a nappy.’
Ant, who was taking a hiatus from presenting at the time after a stint in rehab, was one of the first people to visit baby Isla after she was born in September 2018.
Congratulations: Ant was quick to congratulate Dec after Isla was born in September 2018
A source told The Sun: ‘Ant couldn’t wait to see Dec and Ali – and baby Isla of course. It’s a dream come true for them all and everyone is completely besotted.’
The star also congratulated his friend, tweeting: ‘Welcome to the world, baby Isla Elizabeth Anne. Can’t wait for cuddles. I love you already! Uncle Ant xxxxx’.
Since then Dec, Ali and Isla have often been seen with Ant and his girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett. He was previously married to Lisa Armstrong but announced they had split in January 2018.
Fabulous duo: Since appearing together on Byker Grove in the 1990s Ant and Dec have gone on to become TV favourites with presenting gigs on I’m A Celeb and Britain’s Got Talent
It comes after Dec and his co-host Ant were back on screens on Saturday night for the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent.
The beloved presenting duo hit the right notes as they entertained viewers with a rat pack-influenced intro, which was most definitely a step up from their PJ and Duncan days.
Singing and dancing their way through the show’s opening, Ant and Dec were dressed to impress in sleek suits while introducing the talent show’s return following the coronavirus lockdown.
The series gave fans a sneak peek of the show’s new socially-distanced judging panel ahead of the first semi-final on Saturday.
The new setup sees each judge placed on their own desks at least two metres apart to ensure the show is adhering to new safety guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis.
For the pre-recorded semis, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and new judge Ashley Banjo will be seated separately to adhere with strict new guidelines, with the shows also featuring a virtual audience watching from home.
Amanda has also been promoted to head judge, and joked she’d be backing ‘musical theatre all the way,’ if she had to make a deciding vote.
Simon Cowell, 60, was forced to pull out of BGT after breaking his back during a shock cycling accident, and has been replaced by Diversity star Ashley Banjo.
Smooth moves: BGT winner Ashley Banjo is filling in for head judge Simon Cowell, who is currently recovering from a freak bike accident in Los Angeles