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I'M A CELEBRITY host Ant McPartlin was left "really emotional" after jetting Down Under to front the reality series - leaving his wife and son back on home turf.

The ITV anchor is said to be feeling "anxious" about being away from his little family, after his wife Anne-Marie Corbett gave birth to their first child in May.

Ant McPartlin is 'anxious' about leaving wife Anne-Marie Corbett and son Wilder on home turf after jetting Down Under for work
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Ant McPartlin is 'anxious' about leaving wife Anne-Marie Corbett and son Wilder on home turf after jetting Down Under for workCredit: SMARTPICTURES
The telly anchor, 48, welcomed his first tot Wilder Patrick McPartlin in May
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The telly anchor, 48, welcomed his first tot Wilder Patrick McPartlin in MayCredit: Instagram
He has flown to Brisbane, Australia, to front I'm A Celebrity with best pal Declan Donnelly
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He has flown to Brisbane, Australia, to front I'm A Celebrity with best pal Declan DonnellyCredit: Rex

At the time, Ant, 48, then revealed his sweet nickname for his wife as he showed off a new family tree tattoo while enjoying skin-to-skin contact with his newborn son Wilder.

Yet with Wilder just six months old, Ant has been forced to leave them for his overseas telly presenting gig with best pal Declan Donnelly, 49.

A source has now revealed: "Ant is feeling really emotional about being so far away from Anne-Marie and Wilder.

"It's the longest he has left them for and it's going to be so difficult."

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Talking of how they will make it work, they added to : "Anne-Marie and Ant are going to stay in constant communication and FaceTime lots, but he is worried about the time difference.

"When he wakes up, Anne Marie will have put Wilder to bed, so, it's tough to navigate.

"Ant has made sure Anne Marie has a strong support system back home and he knows Wilder will be safe with his mum, he will just be missing them a lot."

Dec, meanwhile, has been spotted with wife Ali Astall and daughter Isla after they joined him on his long-haul flight.

The family headed for lunch ahead of the show launch this Sunday.

Dec and Ali are also parents to son Jack, aged two, with the little boy seen wheeled along in his pram.

Ant McPartlin grabs lunch with best pal Dec after arriving in Australia for new I'm A Celebrity..

Ant and Dec then joined forces for lunch in Brisbane when Ant touched down solo.

The Geordie duo were seen enjoying grub together at Caba Social cafe.

Ant has also been keeping his mind occupied by getting stuck into his fitness regime, with the Saturday Night Takeaway star spotted following a sweaty workout Down Under.

LET SLIP

Ant previously hinted he had been informed of this year's lineup - including Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen and N-Dubz singer Tulisa - before Dec.

Speaking in September at the National Television Awards - where they scooped the TV presenter gong for the 23rd year in a row - Dec said he knew "absolutely nothing" about the stars pulling on their jungle slacks.

I'm A Celebrity 2024

As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...

  • Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
  • Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
  • Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
  • Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle.
  • GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
  • Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
  • Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice.
  • Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: "As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he'll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home."
  • Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
  • Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
  • Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told : "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache."
  • Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."
  • But Ant teased: "I think I know a little more than you. I've been chatting to some people tonight.

    READ MORE SUN STORIES

    "But I'm obviously not going to mention them now. It's really good, I'm really happy."

    The Sun then exclusively revealed the full 2024 line up for the reality series.

    Ant was left 'really emotional' after leaving his loved ones
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    Ant was left 'really emotional' after leaving his loved onesCredit: Instagram
    Ant and Dec have reunited ahead of the show launch on Sunday
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    Ant and Dec have reunited ahead of the show launch on SundayCredit: instagram/antanddec
    He will Facetime his wife and son 'lots' in between filming breaks
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    He will Facetime his wife and son 'lots' in between filming breaksCredit: Instagram
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