Ant McPartlin made a sweet reference to his newborn son as he returned to work on Britain’s Got Talent tonight.

The 48-year-old became a first time dad earlier this month when he and wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, welcomed their first child together on May 14. After keeping the pregnancy a secret, they finally shared their happy news on social media and revealed they had named their son Wilder Patrick McPartlin.

Sharing a black and white snap cuddling the tot, Ant wrote: “Welcome to the family. Wilder Patrick McPartlin. Born 14/05/24 at 8.54am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!” And after just two weeks as a dad, “over the moon” Ant couldn’t resist talking about his little one as he returned to host a week of BGT semi-finals with sidekick Declan Donnelly.

As Dec started reeling off a checklist of items supposedly needed for BGT, which included nappies and other baby-related essentials, Ant quipped: “That’s my list you idiot!” Later on, judge Simon Cowell briefly stopped the ITV show to say a special congratulations to the new

dad. He said: “Can I just say congratulations to you Ant. I really am happy for you.” A made up Ant replied: “Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you for your lovely gift,” before asking where everyone else’s presents were. He joked: “Judges – still waiting on yours!”

Anthony McPartlin, Simon Cowell and Declan Donnelly
Ant’s pals Simon Cowell and Declan Donelly have been giving him parenting advice ( 

Image:

PA)

Simon himself became a dad later in life at the age of 54 back in 2014 and is now a proud parent to 10-year-old son Eric, who he welcomed with partner Lauren Silverman, 46. Though he is 64 now, Simon has been open about wanting to add to his family – despite once vowing he never wanted children.

Describing son Eric, who is named after his own late father, as “the best thing that ever happened” to him, Simon shared last year: “I love every second I spend with him. And then I’m thinking about the next steps. He’s going to be a teenager and those years ahead. I had such an

amazing experience all through those years. And I was thinking prob­­ably because of that, I’d like to do it again. Will it happen? I don’t know but would I love another kid? Yeah.”

Simon has also been giving parenting advice to his close pal Ant, who he has known for over 20 years. He said: “When I heard Ant was going to become a dad, I told him it would be the best thing that ever happened to him. I basically said the first nine months are a bit strange

because they can’t talk to you. I remember saying to Lauren about Eric at one point: ‘I don’t think he likes me.’ But then after a year everything changes and it’s hilarious, it’s great fun, and you’ll really really enjoy it. And it will be life-changing. I’m really happy for both of them.”