Declan Donnelly has opened up about living with persistent anxiety that prevents him from ever truly switching off, revealing he finds it impossible to simply sit and relax.
The 50-year-old, who forms one half of the long-running duo Ant and Dec, made the admission during a rare joint podcast interview with his presenting partner.
"I struggle a bit with... It's kind of a low-level, constant anxiety about 'should be doing this' or 'I've got to be doing...," Mr Donnelly explained.
"I never feel I can sit down and just watch telly, I always feel like I should be doing something else. There's that anxiety that there's a job that needs to be done somewhere and I should be doing it."
Ant and Dec have been familiar faces on screens for decades
| ITVThe television star disclosed that he sought professional help approximately five or six years ago and found the experience extremely valuable.
"I went through a period of having therapy about five, five or six years ago. I really got a lot out of it. I really enjoyed it," he said on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast
Mr Donnelly spoke about the internal battle he faces daily, describing his efforts to quieten the nagging thoughts urging him towards greater productivity.
"I struggle with that a lot, with trying to calm that voice in the back of your head that's going, 'No, you should be using this time more productively'," he added.
When he attempted to resume sessions after a break, his therapist was unavailable. Although another professional was recommended, Mr Donnelly admitted he has yet to arrange an appointment.
The Geordie duo, who rose to prominence as teenagers, reflected on their enduring partnership and growing appreciation for their work as they have matured.
Mr Donnelly emphasised that despite the entertainment nature of their programmes, they approach every project with complete dedication.
"To entertain the whole family is no mean feat, and you've got to try and grab each generation and entertain them. It's entertainment, it's fun, but we take it incredibly seriously," he said.
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Ant and Dec
| PAMr McPartlin expressed gratitude for their position in broadcasting, describing it as the finest profession imaginable.
"It's a privilege to be in someone's living room on a Saturday night hosting a big show," he remarked, whilst acknowledging they have fronted some unsuccessful programmes over the years.
The conversation turned to their experiences as fathers, with Mr McPartlin revealing his 19-month-old son has forced him to watch his language at home.
"I'm getting told off a lot for swearing in the house," he confessed.
Ant and Dec are also launching their own podcast
| GETTYMr Donnelly shared that his seven-year-old daughter, Isla, frequently requests to watch I'm A Celebrity, though he remains hesitant given the programme airs after the watershed. He also has a three-year-old son, Jack.
"I'm not sure my kids should be watching my TV show," he admitted.
The pair announced their own podcast, Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, launches later this week. Mr Donnelly revealed they actually recorded a pilot episode in a pub roughly 15 years ago, but never pursued it further.
However, the podcast's launch hasn't been plain sailing, with the pair issuing an apology for their inadvertently "insensitive" promo trailer for the new project.