Declan Donnelly fought back tears whilst reading a heartfelt letter addressed to his teenage self during the latest instalment of his podcast with Ant McPartlin.
The emotional segment aired on Thursday's episode of Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, which dropped on Belta Box's YouTube channel at 6pm.
"This might be a hard bit," the visibly moved presenter warned before continuing with the letter, to which his co-host responded: "I bet."
The podcast, which the duo launched in January 2026, marks their first venture into the format after more than three decades of working together.
Ant and Dec first met on the set of Byker Grove in 1989, where they portrayed characters PJ and Duncan before launching music careers under the same name
| PAThe episode followed Mr Donnelly revisiting diary entries from 1994, written during a period when he and Mr McPartlin were embarking on a new chapter following their PJ and Duncan touring days.
In the letter, addressed to his 1994 self, Mr Donnelly reflected on how that period felt "exciting and exhilarating, yet daunting and bewildering, thrilling and intoxicating, yet intense and exhausting."
He acknowledged that while he and Mr McPartlin thought they had simply left for a brief adventure, they had in reality departed home for good, with their lives never returning to how they had been.
The presenter offered several pieces of guidance to his younger self, urging him to seize every opportunity, cherish genuine friendships, and return to Newcastle as often as possible.
The episode followed Mr Donnelly revisiting diary entries from 1994
|BELTA BOX/YOUTUBE
"Your family have given you the best start in life," he wrote, adding with visible emotion: "They're not all going to be there forever, though. So, appreciate them all while you have them."
The most poignant moment came when Mr Donnelly turned his attention directly to his presenting partner's younger self.
"Say hi to 1994 Ant for me. Tell him to remember he's a great kid, and it will all be OK. Even when it feels like it won't," he said, before concluding: "Look out for each other, enjoy the ride and hey, respect guys. Love from future Dec."
The message carried particular significance given Mr McPartlin's well-documented battles with addiction.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Ant and Dec launched their career together three decades ago
|GETTY
In 2017, he revealed he had developed a dependency on prescription medication following knee surgery and subsequently entered rehabilitation.
The following year, he pleaded guilty to drink-driving after a collision in London and stepped away from television commitments to focus on his recovery.
Mr McPartlin has since spoken about being in a happier place, having remained sober since his 2018 conviction.
The presenting pair first met on the set of Byker Grove in 1989, where they portrayed characters PJ and Duncan before launching music careers under the same name.
Their transition from teen actors and pop performers to television presenters has spanned more than three decades, during which they have fronted programmes including SMTV Live, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent and Limitless Win.
The duo have claimed the National Television Award for best presenter on a record 23 occasions.
Mr Donnelly also reflected on their enduring bond in the letter, telling his younger self that his friendship with McPartlin would "endure through thick and thin" and remain even stronger in 2026 than it was back then.