Most days taking your child to work means a bored teen or preteen milling around aimlessly in an office chair while the parent tries to meet an important deadline.
But for Declan Donnelly’s six-year-old daughter Isla, it was every child’s dream when she joined her dad on the set of I’m a Celebrity yesterday morning in the Australian jungle.
It can be revealed that Isla spent the morning playing with members of the ITV team and was well looked after in her father’s flashy jungle dressing room, decked out with a sofa, bathroom and television to watch the show.
Isla, who learned the ropes of the show at a young age, watched as the 49-year-old and his long-time hosting partner Ant McPartlin performed their after-show to thousands of people.
He even interrupted his ‘Uncle Ant’ during the talk to shout ‘Toast!’ as she showed pieces to the camera, to which he lovingly responded: ‘Yes, Isla, toast.’
It’s not the first time an ITV star has brought their child to set, with Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden even bringing their children to the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel with them.
Declan Donnelly’s daughter Isla, 6, enjoyed a day behind the scenes on the set of I’m A Celebrity as she joined her dad in the jungle on Friday.
Declan has brought his wife Ali Astall, 45, his children Isla, five, and Jack, two, and his long-time nanny to Brisbane.
Holden, 53, revealed that Eric, 10, and his youngest daughter Hollie, 12, were constantly getting into “mischief” on set and had become close friends behind the scenes.
Taking Isla to work is certainly a move to show her around camp, but also to spend more time with his daughter as he spends three weeks filming in Australia.
During filming, the families stay in a luxurious New South Wales beachside apartment, costing £1,000 a night, equipped with a private pool and close to a golf course.
But filming schedules are busy for Ant and Dec, which has only increased this year since they have to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked as well as filming their own after-show.
The couple wake up at 2am (AEST) and drive about half an hour to camp each day and film an episode that will air the following night in the UK.
Filming ends around 4pm (AEST) and the dynamic duo are reportedly in bed by 6.30pm to get enough sleep to wake up early.
It comes after Ant and Dec announced they would be taking a break from presenting Saturday Night Takeaway after its 20th series to spend more time with their families.
Ant, who welcomed his first child with wife Anne-Marie Corbett, said: “Part of the reason we are putting Takeaway on hiatus is that we ourselves need a break and we need to spend some time with our family.
Dec and talent manager Ali have been married since 2015
“We both have kids we need to spend time with for a while.”
Ant welcomed his son, Wilder Patrick, seven months ago and was seen taking him for a walk on the beach on the Gold Coast after he was flown out to visit him.
Before I’m A Celebrity, Dec flew with wife Ali Astall, 45, children Isla and Jack, two, and his long-time nanny to Brisbane a week before series 24 for some vacation.
Battling jet lag, the family of four was seen having lunch at their usual spot, The Socials, opposite their apartment, where they enjoyed a leisurely breakfast watched by five security guards.
Dec and talent manager Ali, who have been married since 2015, ordered the same £13 breakfast of scrambled eggs, avocado and bacon, while the kids had waffles and Nutella.
They were joined by their longtime nanny, who has accompanied the family on the trip of a lifetime since 2019, when she skydived while her employers looked on.
One onlooker told MailOnline: “They seemed quite dazed and didn’t speak much other than to their security, who were attentive throughout.”
“At one point, Dec spoke to a waiter about how they were still struggling with jet lag and then commented on how far the journey was, joking that he was glad he didn’t walk it.
“They were both really nice and more chatty with the staff than with each other.”