Declan Donnelly reveals he almost QUIT showbiz aged 11 to become a PRIEST before landing role in Byker Grove with Ant Mcpartlin
Declan Donnelly has revealed that he wanted to quit acting aged 11 and become a priest when he was turned down for the lead role in the kids' show Geordie Racer.
The TV presenter, 44, who is one half of the duo Ant and Dec, described how he almost turned his back on showbiz after being rejected from the children's series.
The star told how he 'briefly considered' following the career of his brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, who even conducted Dec's wedding to Ali Astall in 2015.
Double act: Declan Donnelly, 44, has revealed that he wanted to quit acting aged 11 and become a priest when he was turned down for the lead role in the kids' show Geordie Racer (pictured with Anthony McPartlin, 44)
Dec, who fronts TV shows Britain's Got Talent and I'm a Celebrity alongside Anthony McPartlin, 44, revealed he made a 'momentous decision' after his failed audition.
In an extract, according to The Mirror, from his first autobiography with Ant, Ooh! What a Lovely Pair, he wrote: 'After that crushing rejection, I made a momentous decision: that was it - I was going to retire from acting. I was eleven.'
And Dec, who is the youngest of seven children, described how he contemplated turning to religion after his audition didn't go to plan.
Back: The duo looked ready for action behind the scenes as they posed for an Instagram selfie in the Union Flag masks printed with 'Britain's Got Talent' ahead of the show on Sunday
He continued: 'Later on, when I was about fourteen, I did briefly consider following in his footsteps, and the footsteps of my Godfather, Father O'Connell, and becoming a priest.'
However the Geordie star described how he 'knew right there' that the career was not for him when he travelled home from school on a bus which was 'full of lasses'.
Dec landed the role of Duncan in Byker Grove in 1989 after a producer from Geordie Racer wrote to the young star and encouraged him to continue acting.
Along with Ant, who joined the set as PJ in 1990, the pair went on to become pop sensations as PJ & Duncan, before settling into their roles as a hosting duo.
Youngsters: Dec landed the role of Duncan in Byker Grove in 1989 after a producer from Geordie Racer wrote to the young star and encouraged him to continue acting (pictured with Ant as PJ in 1993)
Close: Along with Ant, who joined the set as PJ in 1990, the pair went on to become pop sensations as PJ & Duncan, before settling into their roles as a hosting duo
Among their exhaustive list of presenting gigs are Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, SMTV Live, CD:UK, Friends Like These and Pop Idol, to name but a few.
It comes after Britain's Got Talent returned on Sunday night to reveal the final 40 acts through to the semi-finals.
The duo looked ready for action behind the scenes as they posed for an Instagram selfie in the Union Flag masks printed with 'Britain's Got Talent' ahead of the show.
In the one-off special ahead of the semi-finals, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell, David Walliams, and Amanda Holden reunited for the tough job of cutting 200 acts down.
Talented: Among their exhaustive list of presenting gigs are Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, SMTV Live, CD:UK, Friends Like These and Pop Idol, to name but a few