Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Tearful Ant & Dec Discover They’re Related In Surprise Twist On Their ‘DNA Journey’

Joanna Freedman

Published 
| Last updated 

Tearful Ant & Dec Discover They’re Related In Surprise Twist On Their ‘DNA Journey’

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/ Ant and Dec

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly got quite a surprise on Monday night as they rounded off their DNA journey by discovering that they were actually related.

The I'm A Celebrity and Saturday Night Takeaway and presenting duo - who have been best friends of over three decades - initially looked like they were from very different ancestral backgrounds, with Ant, 43, being told his lineage was of "historical importance," while Dec, 44, discovered his were named after a porridge.

But in a very surprising twist, the final episode of their DNA journey revealed they carry the s660 DNA marker.

Ant and Dec discovered they had a common Viking ancestor (Credit: ITV)
Ant and Dec discovered they had a common Viking ancestor (Credit: ITV)
Advert

Not only that, but genealogists discovered that the PJ & Duncan stars both shared the gene with a Viking warrior through their father's blood-line, who had been dug up in Dublin and likely died in 790AD.

Dec discovered the unlikely news first, before telling his gobsmacked colleague: "Ant, we've discovered your DNA into the deep past and you carry a unique DNA marker called S660".

Ant and Dec are childhood best pals (Credit: PA)
Ant and Dec are childhood best pals (Credit: PA)

Scanning the letter he'd been presented with, Dec added: "OMG, that's really surprising!"

Advert

Ant instantly looked thrilled by the news, declaring: "That's brilliant!," before jokily turning to Dec and adding: "Wait, are you disappointed?"

However, Dec was clearly chuffed too, even getting tearful later in the show.

Giving some context, a genealogist explained: "There's only one way to share a DNA marker - and that's because you're related.

Ant seemed absolutely gobsmacked by the news (Credit: ITV)
Ant seemed absolutely gobsmacked by the news (Credit: ITV)
Advert

"Recently, a Viking age warrior's Skelton has been dug up in Dublin. He was in his late 20s, and died over 1000 years ago.

"What's amazing to me is that when his DNA was analysed, it was shown he carried the S660 marker - the same marker that Ant and Dec carry."

After processing the surprising news, an emotional Ant told the camera: "We're friends, we've got that brotherly connection.

"But it feels even deeper. Doing this show has made us look at each other in a different way. He means the world to me."

Advert
The pair were tearful after digesting the news (Credit: ITV)
The pair were tearful after digesting the news (Credit: ITV)

Meanwhile, through tears, Dec added: "I'm at my happiest and most content when we're together. He's like another part of me.

"It would be like losing a limb if I didn't have him in my life. It's proved again why we're such good friends."

We're not crying, you are.

Advert

It wasn't just Ant and Dec who were clearly touched by the surprising revelation.




"If you're not crying with happiness at the end of #antanddecdnajourney you're not even human! Amazing journey @antanddec and thank you for sharing it with us," one viewer wrote.

While another added: "So not only have they been bestfriend's all these years but to now find out they're actually related! honestly shed a couple of tears. how lovely for them both! so happy for them".

A third chipped in: "The fact they found out they were related just makes their relationship even more special, absolutely adore them both and it was such an incredibly emotional show to watch".

The show was filmed during Ant's well-documented struggles with addiction, and was put on pause for two years while he went to rehab and took a break from professional commitments.

Ant paused the DNA journey because of his addiction battle (Credit: ITV)
Ant paused the DNA journey because of his addiction battle (Credit: ITV)

Reflecting on his journey, Ant admitted: "A lot has happened in those two years."

While Dec added that he was "disappointed and angry" at Ant at first, but stuck by his side nonetheless.

"The last thing I remember was we got a DNA alert while in Ireland telling us we had to go to New York which was very exciting news, then life took a bit of a turn and we didn't make it to New York," he said.

Looking back, the pair revealed that the difficult period had only brought them closer together.

Dec said Ant's addiction battle left him 'disappointed' (Credit: ITV)
Dec said Ant's addiction battle left him 'disappointed' (Credit: ITV)

"The last few years have been quite emotional, hard. They've been testing I would say in terms of how strong your friendship is," Ant said.

"Its been two years, we started out in Newcastle and here we are now... cousins!"

Loading…

How amazing.

Topics: Ant McPartlin, Celebrity News, TV News, TV Entertainment, Ant and Dec

Joanna Freedman
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

Rihanna shares plans for baby number three with A$AP Rocky

12 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Rebel Wilson opens up on losing her virginity at age 35 as she says others 'shouldn’t feel pressured'

20 hours ago