Television presenter Declan Donnelly has shared a mortifying experience on the golf course, recounting how he accidentally struck his friend and co-host Ant McPartlin’s stepdaughter’s boyfriend with a golf ball. The incident, which occurred during a game, left the young man in considerable pain and Donnelly feeling deeply regretful. He detailed the event on the latest episode of their podcast, “Hanging Out With Ant & Dec.”
The Golf Course Mishap
Donnelly, 50, described the precise moment of the accident. He was approximately 75 to 80 yards from the green, preparing to play a shot with what he believed was a sand iron. His intention was to open the club face slightly to ensure the ball landed gently on the green. However, this adjustment caused the ball to veer off course, heading in the direction where two of his playing partners were standing.
Despite shouting “fore right” – a standard golf warning indicating a ball is heading to the right and that players in that area should take cover – one of the individuals delayed his reaction. Donnelly recounted the audible thud as the ball struck the man on the back of the head. “Honest to God, you heard as it hit him on the back of the head,” Donnelly stated, emphasizing the impact.
Ant McPartlin’s Reaction and Concern
Ant McPartlin, who was not present at the golf course during the incident, expressed his dismay upon hearing the news. He learned about the event from Donnelly when he returned home, noting that his daughter’s boyfriend was suffering from significant pain. “Dec has hit someone on the golf course. Not just anyone. My daughter’s boyfriend,” McPartlin remarked, highlighting the personal connection.
McPartlin shared the young man’s immediate response, relaying, “He said, ‘It’s all right. You hit the soft bit’.” However, Donnelly countered this, admitting, “It didn’t make the noise of the soft bit. It didn’t.” He reiterated his profound guilt, saying, “I felt and still feel so bad. I’ve never done that before.”
McPartlin, with a touch of humor, questioned whether his daughter’s boyfriend was fully conscious, jokingly asking if he should check if he was still alive. This lighthearted exchange underscored the underlying concern for the individual’s well-being.
Impact on the Game and Team Dynamics
Donnelly also revealed that the incident seemed to affect his performance and the team’s overall success. He was partnered with McPartlin’s stepdaughter’s boyfriend for the game, and following the accident, Donnelly felt their play deteriorated. “Of course we lost. One of us went to pot after that,” he confessed. McPartlin playfully added that he was relieved he hadn’t played, suggesting he would have been Donnelly’s partner and potentially faced a similar fate.
Background on Ant McPartlin’s Family
Ant McPartlin is married to Anne-Marie Corbett. Together, they are raising Corbett’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Daisy, 18, and Poppy, 16, whom McPartlin refers to as his own. In 2024, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Wilder. McPartlin has expressed a desire to have more children, despite acknowledging the demands of parenting a young child alongside his older stepchildren.
The family recently relocated from their Wimbledon home to a more secluded property in Cobham, Surrey. McPartlin has often spoken of Anne-Marie’s significant role in his life, particularly during his past struggles with alcohol and prescription painkiller addiction. He credits her as his “rock and lifesaver” and credits their current happy and stable life together for his ongoing recovery and well-being.
McPartlin met Anne-Marie in 2017 when she began working as his personal assistant. Their relationship developed after both had separated from their previous partners. McPartlin has consistently emphasized the integrity of their relationship, stating that it began only after they were both single.
Conclusion
The golf incident, while seemingly minor in the grand scheme of things, highlights a moment of unfortunate clumsiness for Declan Donnelly. The retelling on the podcast provided a humorous yet relatable account of a common hazard in golf, amplified by the personal connections involved. While the young man experienced pain, the situation was ultimately resolved with a mix of regret, concern, and lighthearted banter between the long-time friends.
