Declan

In recent months Ant & Dec have spoken more about their televisual adventures both in front of the cameras and behind them as I’m A Celebrity South Africa kicks off

Declan Donnelly, one half of the Ant & Dec presenting duo, has said they were stunned by an intruder at their lodge on I’m A Celebrity South Africa.

The pair are out in the region presenting the latest series of the ITV programme, which features 12 celebrities, including Gemma Collins, Sinitta, Seann Walsh and Sir Mo Farah, competing for victory.

Anthony McPartlin, 50, said to Declan on their podcast Hanging Out with Ant & Dec: “Didn’t you have a bush baby in your room?” The bush babies Anthony was asking about are a type of nocturnal primate.

In response, Declan, 50, said: “In my lodge was a thatched roof, and I came back from work and my fruit bowl — there was an orange on the side — and it had been half peeled, and there was wee on the worktop.

“Somebody came round — one of the guys who come to pick us up. I said, ‘Have you seen this? Looks like wee on the side and my fruit’s had a go at.’

“He went, ‘Oh, you’ve got bush babies. They live in the thatched roof and they come down and they come at your fruit, have a wee and then they go again.’”

This isn’t the only time Ant & Dec have spoken about their lives behind the television screens, with their podcast seeing the pair speak a little more about the famous people they’ve talked to and the hilarious incidents along the way.

Notably, the pair spoke earlier this year about what it was like when they met King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales in the early 2000s, and how Declan got distracted whilst meeting the then heir to the throne.

The interview, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Prince’s Trust — now the King’s Trust — with the future monarch took place at Highgrove House. Declan recalled how Charles said that he wanted to chat with Ant & Dec off camera before the interview began so they could get to know each other.

As a result, he invited them in for tea. However, Declan said he got a bit distracted by not knowing who was going to pour the tea.

He said: “So, we went in, sat in this room, and he came in and shook our hands and we sat down and they brought in this massive tray with a big teapot, teacups on it, biscuits and stuff, and we sat there and he’s talking to us.

“I’m sitting there going, ‘Who’s going to pour the tea? He’s not going to do it. Do we do it? Are we supposed to do this? Should one of us just dive in?’ I was really distracted.

“‘Has this been left for us to do because he’s not going to do it? So have we got to do this?’ I was really distracted through the whole thing. I kind of wasn’t listening to what he was saying because I was too worried.”

Declan’s comments came ahead of the pair’s travels to South Africa to film the I’m A Celebrity spin-off, which returns to screens at 9pm tonight on ITV.

Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Gabriel have trained before Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final with Sporting.

Midfielder Rice, 27, left the England squad following a medical assessment during March’s international break and missed Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final loss to Southampton.

Brazil defender Gabriel, meanwhile, was forced off with a knee issue after taking a knock during the defeat on the south coast.

Both players were involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney base on Monday before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Lisbon for the first leg.

Belgian winger Leandro Trossard also returned to training but Bukayo Saka was not involved after he also left the England camp early.

Nico de Boinville has been cleared of making racist comments towards fellow jockey Declan Queally at the Cheltenham Festival.

De Boinville, 36, had “categorically” denied the accusation he used such language.

Irish amateur jockey Queally had alleged he was racially abused before the Novices’ Hurdle, when it was held up because of a false start on day two of the meeting.

Queally, riding I’ll Sort That, and Englishman De Boinville, on Act Of Innocence, could be seen exchanging words at the start line.

Queally later told ITV Racing he had received abuse and then told the Racing Post some of the abuse was racial in nature – though De Boinville denied this was the case.

The two then appeared on ITV Racing together and shook hands at the entrance of the weight room, where the Irishman said the matter was “all sorted”.

However, a British Horseracing Authority investigation had been opened. It has now concluded and found “no evidence to support the allegation made by Mr Queally of racist comments”.

“It is understood, and accepted, that strong language was used by De Boinville at the start and directed towards Mr Queally,” said a BHA statement.

“It was also stated that a number of riders were also verbally expressing their frustration at the start, away from the incident being enquired into.

“There was no audio evidence or verbal evidence given from any party during the course of the enquiry to corroborate that any language used was of a racist nature.”

While Queally’s complaint was not upheld, De Boinville was reminded of his “obligations and the expectations to ensure he behaves in a professional manner, and this includes when pressure is heightened at the start of high-profile fixtures”.

After first accusing De Boinville of being “abusive”, Queally told The Racing Post, external on Wednesday he had received “repeated racist abuse” from his rival.

The Irishman, riding I’ll Sort That, and De Boinville on Act Of Innocence could be seen exchanging words at the start line, but the Englishman denies any wrongdoing.

De Boinville told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra on Thursday: “It is an ongoing investigation.

“The stewards are gathering all the evidence they can from all the video footage.

“From my point of view, I deny all the allegations against me.

“I can categorically say there weren’t any racial slurs or anything like that. Let’s let it play out.”

Queally, 37, appeared to topple off his horse before Wednesday’s race started and had to be checked over by a doctor. He was given the all-clear to race, along with Ballyfad, who was kicked pre-race and assessed by a vet in a chaotic few minutes.

A number of false starts to the planned rolling start meant the horses were moved to a standing start at the tape – leaving jockeys jostling for position.

After the race, Queally, who finished fifth, was interviewed by ITV Racing before entering the weight room.

He said: “Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, not very nice.

“I am an amateur, coming over here and riding in front of my kids. Horrific.”

When informed of Queally’s comments about a difficult start to the race, De Boinville responded: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.”

Legendary jockey AP McCoy said Queally has “as much right to be there as anyone”, while Ruby Walsh said the start system “hasn’t worked for 20 years”.

Walsh told ITV: “It’s 2026. How has nobody devised a tape that rolls in front of the horses?

“The tape should have been in front of them when they went on to the track and it should be moved in front of the horses.

“We can send missiles after fighter planes in the Gulf, but nobody can design a rolling flyaway tape. That’s the joke.”