Ant McPartlin was snapped with his baby son Wilder while in Australia filming I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.
The doting dad, 49, launched the debut episode of the ITV reality TV series on Sunday night (or Monday morning for those based in the Australian camp), and it certainly kicked off with a bang.
Viewers were left in stitches as Wagatha Christie jokes were immediately aimed at Coleen Rooney, GK Barry had an iconic meltdown after facing down some bugs, and Danny Jones pulled down his shorts to reveal a massive trouser snake.
Following the morning launch of the show, the presenter celebrated his 49th time around the sun with his baby son on Cabarita Beach in New South Wales Australia.
The new dad looked relaxed in shades and a dressed-down style as he spent some time with the tot.
It was previously reported that the presenter was leaving his family behind in the UK while he filmed the latest series in Australia, but clearly plans changed so that he could be with his young son.
Ant became a dad for the first time earlier this year when his wife of three years Anne-Marie gave birth to baby Wilder.
A source said Ant was going to be ’emotional’ about being down under while his family were staying at home: ‘Ant is feeling really emotional about being so far away from Anne-Marie and Wilder.
‘It’s the longest he has left them for and it’s going to be so difficult,’ they claimed to OK! It’s unclear how long he will be with his family and if they will enjoy him during his stint on the other side of the globe.
The beloved TV star has previously made adjustments to enjoy this next phase of his life. Ant walked away from Saturday Night Takeaway in April after both he and Dec, who has two children with wife Ali Astall, decided they wanted to spend more time with their families.
At the time, Ant said: ‘Part of the reason we’re pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.
‘We’ve both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.’
In the month after the finale, Ant’s life changed when his son Wilder arrived.
‘Welcome to the family, Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54 am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess,’ he wrote on Instagram at the time.
After being firmly in the baby bubble over the summer, Ant will now be in Australia for over three weeks and it’s unclear how much time his son will be joining him for.
The presenter is also apart from Daisy and Poppy – Anne-Marie’s daughters from a previous relationship. He has formed a close bond with them, and has their names tattooed on his arm alongside Anne-Marie’s.
This year, Ant and Dec, 49, will be joined in the jungle by a very starry line-up. Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, Dean McCullough, Tulisa Contostavlos, Melvin Odoom, Barry McGuigan, GK Barry, and Danny Jones will all be competing to become King or Queen of the jungle.
It will be the 22nd year for the popular reality show, with Ant hosting 21 of them.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here starts on Sunday, November 17, at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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