Inside Ant and Dec’s 40th bash
I’m a celebrity... get me in there
THE stars really did come out for Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s riotous 40th birthday bash.
The I’m A Celebrity presenters’ fellow Geordie Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was said to be the “life and soul” of the party, necking tequila shots and doing the conga.
A host of other big names were welcomed to the Eighties-themed event, which began on Thursday evening and lasted till 3am yesterday, by Doc Brown lookalikes inspired by the 1985 film Back To The Future.
Among them were Holly Willoughby, David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Phillip Schofield and Spice Girl Emma Bunton.
Fun House host Pat Sharp and ex-JLS singer Marvin Humes took to the decks and there was entertainment from Ronan Keating, Black Lace and Belinda Carlisle.
Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton fought a hangover yesterday after swigging shots with Cheryl and her French husband Jean-Bernard – seen out in public together for the first time in three months. But he called it “the greatest party ever”, telling of how had enjoyed a hilarious time with Black Lace on the dance floor.
One guest at Kensington Roof Gardens in London said: “It was one of the best parties I’ve ever been too. As Ronan did Life Is A Rollercoaster he went to Ant and Dec and got them singing. Then Black Lace sang Agadoo and everyone was cheering.
“It was hilarious. People had the time of
their lives. Cheryl was on top form, cracking jokes with everybody. By the end everyone was pretty merry. Davina McCall danced to every track, Keith Lemon larked about as usual and Piers Morgan held court.”
Dec – who wed his manager Ali Astall, 37, in August – and Ant had been planning the bash for months. The source said: “Dec celebrated his birthday on holiday with Ali on September 25 and Ant’s is on November 18. They felt the party would be best in the middle. A lot of thought went into it. They loved the Eighties, as they met then and their life as a double act began.”
Midway into the do the birthday boys started doing the conga with their guests, whom they had welcomed by saying: “Thank you so much for celebrating with us.” But they kept speeches to a minimum as they “had been exhausted at Dec’s wedding”. Among the party highlights were jungle-themed cocktails - a nod to their jobs hosting ITV’s I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.
The three-tier cake was wrapped in a large fake snake plus pictures from all of the pair’s big shows, including Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent.
And many showbiz guests found themselves on a wall of fame Ant and Dec had created to chart their careers right back to Byker Grove. “They had thought of everything,” said the source.
“They had a barbecue on the rooftop terrace which went down well. Also all the celebs came with gifts, which were put in a big room.”
Other stars included Alesha Dixon, Eamonn Holmes and ex-Newcastle United and England footballers Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley.
Ant’s wife Lisa Armstrong, 38, left with no shoes on – then she and her husband of nine years giggled as they adopted a string of playful poses while awaiting their car.
Ant and Dec head to Australia next month to film I’m A Celebrity. The source said: “The do was a great send-off but it’ll take a while to get rid of the hangovers.”