Dec’s relatives are cousin the money
Search finds American family he never knew he had
DECLAN Donnelly has discovered more than a dozen cousins in America he never knew existed.
And one of them is almost as wealthy as him. The TV presenter and pal Ant McPartlin were looking into their family trees in the US when Dec was told a DNA match to him had been found in Connecticut.
He and the woman, called Meg, shared great great grandparents.
She and husband Greg sent one of their fleet of helicopters to New York to fly the I’m a Celebrity hosts to their plush house – and they arrived to be greeted by a banner on the lawn reading “Welcome cousin Dec”.
Meg tells him: “My dad passed aged 63 and all his brothers passed as well. So, I didn’t really get to know much about him so it’s nice to finally have a little bit of my dad back. It’s been kind of cool, especially for our kids.
“This is what we’ve found out so far, we have the same great, great grandparents.”
Dec replies: “Incredible, that would be our common ancestor.”
Meg then adds: “I have a little surprise for you, I have a few of your cousins here.” At that point the others file in and astonished Dec declares: “Oh wow, this is amazing. I’m really emotional. Oh my goodness. Nice to meet you all. This is overwhelming.
“All those Irish Catholics had lots of children, didn’t they?”
The surprise meeting comes in new show Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey.
Ant discovers pain and sadness in his family tree linked to his late nana Kitty back in her native Ireland.
His family had known nothing of her early life, after she moved to England from Fermoy, Co Cork, when she was 12 or 13.
Ant learns Kitty’s mum died of TB two years after her birth. It was originally thought she passed away during Kitty’s birth. He also finds out her older brother Michael died aged eight of whooping cough.
Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey is on Sunday, November 10, and Monday, November 11, at 9pm on ITV.
All those Irish Catholics had lots of children
DEC JOKES WITH HIS NEW-FOUND COUSINS