A Nostalgic Look Back at Ant McPartlin’s Early TV Days
Ant McPartlin, one of the most recognizable faces on British television, has a long history in the entertainment industry. But did you know he once showcased his cooking skills on a BBC children’s show back in 1988? At just 12 years old, Ant appeared on Why Don’t You…?, a program that featured games and recipes sent in by young viewers. This throwback clip recently resurfaced, offering a glimpse into the early days of the ITV star.
In the video, Ant was seen wearing an oversized sweatshirt with his name printed on the front, standing behind a table filled with ingredients. He demonstrated how to make what he called “Sweet Fried Eggs,” a recipe that had nothing to do with actual eggs. Instead, the dish involved Swiss rolls, marmalade, whipped cream, and a giant peach to mimic the yellow of an egg.
Ant explained the process in a confident and engaging manner, showing off his presenting skills even at such a young age. He said, “This is a recipe for Sweet Fried Eggs and the funny thing is, it has nothing to do with eggs. What you do is get your slices of Swiss Rolls and then put marmalade on, dollop it on top like that, your suppose to use jam but I don’t like it.” He then added whipped cream, calling it “my best bit,” before finishing with a giant peach on top.
The BBC captioned the clip with a nostalgic message: “1988: Young Ant McPartlin demonstrates how to make ‘Sweet Fried Eggs’. He’s a ubiquitous part of British TV but everyone has to start somewhere, and in the case of Anthony McPartlin, it was on children’s show Why Don’t You…? The series tried out games and recipes sent in by its young audience and #OnThisDay in 1988 12-year-old Ant demonstrated how to make Sweet Fried Eggs – and he didn’t hold back on the squirty cream.”
A New Chapter in the Kitchen
Fast forward to today, and Ant has returned to the kitchen as a host of a digital cooking series alongside his longtime co-host, Declan Donnelly. The duo’s show, Taste Mates, sees them cook and review a variety of fun recipes. Their chemistry remains as strong as ever, and their passion for food continues to shine through.
But beyond the kitchen, Ant and Dec have also found another source of joy—fatherhood. Both men have spoken openly about how becoming fathers has been their greatest achievement. Ant welcomed his first child, a son named Wilder, with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett in May 2024. He is also a stepdad to her two teenage daughters.
Declan, who is also 50, has two young children with his wife, Ali Astall: daughter Isla, seven, and son Jack, three. In the latest episode of their podcast, Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, the pair shared their reflections on parenthood.
Reflections on Fatherhood
When asked about their experiences as fathers, both Ant and Dec were full of emotion. Dec said, “It’s the best thing ever. I wish I’d done it earlier and I wish I’d had ten,” before laughing, “maybe not ten. Maybe three.” Ant agreed, saying, “I’ve got three and I’d have more.”
Ant described fatherhood as “the absolute best” and credited his experience as a stepdad with his wife’s daughters for giving him a head start. “I feel like I had a really great introduction to fatherhood because I got to be able to talk to them straight away. We could go out and the feedback was immediate.”
He continued, “Then when Wilder came along, I got to do all of the baby and toddler stuff that I didn’t get to do with the girls. So, I’ve had the best of both worlds really.”
Dec echoed these sentiments, calling parenthood “our biggest achievement. Of everything we’ve done professionally, it’s the thing that I think we’ve got the most satisfaction from.”
He shared a personal story about his own journey into fatherhood. “For me, I was lucky enough to have two, a girl and a boy. I was a bit worried before Jack came along because I thought, ‘God, am I ever going to be able to love him as much as I love Isla?’ Do I have to half my love to both of them? Do they both get half of my love? Because she’s got it all at the moment. And then he came along and you realise then, oh no, you don’t half anything. You get double the love.”
Both men agree that being a parent has changed them for the better, and that the challenges of sleepless nights and early mornings are well worth it. As Ant put it, “It’s the greatest thing I think you can do. It far surpasses anything that we’ve achieved in our career.”
