Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have sparked a lively debate after calling out a common habit they say is ruining the atmosphere at children’s playgroups.
Speaking on their Ant and Dec’s Hanging Out podcast, the beloved TV duo were asked for their thoughts on people playing music aloud in public without using headphones. While both agreed it can be irritating in many situations, it was Dec’s recent experience at his three-year-old son Jack’s playgroup that really struck a nerve.
Dec’s Frustration at Playgroup
The presenter, who shares Jack and seven-year-old daughter Isla with his wife Ali Astall, recalled sitting outside while the children played indoors as parents caught up on work and emails.
According to Dec, one parent chose to play chart music directly from her phone for everyone nearby to hear instead of wearing headphones.
“I just thought it was so rude,” he said, explaining that everyone else was trying to concentrate while she listened to music out loud.
Declan Donnelly has hit out at ‘selfish and rude’ parents for blaring out music from their phones after taking his son Jack, three, to a playgroup
The duo were asked to give their thoughts on playing music without headphones
He added that people shouldn’t force others to listen to their personal playlists, describing the behaviour as inconsiderate in shared public spaces.
Ant Agrees—With One Exception
Ant quickly backed his longtime presenting partner, admitting he also finds it frustrating when people blast music on buses or trains.
“If someone’s playing music without headphones on public transport, you’re thinking, ‘Oh, shut up,'” he joked.
However, Ant admitted there is one situation where he actually enjoys hearing music—when it’s part of the atmosphere while walking through busy town centres.
Even so, he agreed that a quiet playgroup where parents are working or relaxing is a completely different environment.
“It’s selfish,” Ant said, echoing Dec’s criticism.
Music Is the One Thing Ant Could Never Give Up
The conversation also revealed just how important music is to Ant personally.
He admitted that if he had to give up television, films, books or music, the choice would be easy.
“I could give up TV, films and reading,” he said. “But I couldn’t give up listening to music.”
Fatherhood Has Changed Everything
Away from the light-hearted debate, Dec recently shared a much more emotional reflection on family life during an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast.
The 50-year-old described becoming a father as the greatest achievement of his life, saying nothing in his hugely successful television career compares to raising his children.
“I wish I’d done it ten years earlier,” he admitted, explaining that fatherhood has brought him more happiness than anything else.
Now that he has reached 50, Dec said his biggest priority is staying healthy so he can enjoy as many years as possible with Isla and Jack.
Meanwhile, Ant welcomed his son Wilder with wife Anne-Marie Corbett in 2025 and is also a devoted stepfather to her two daughters.
For the presenting duo, family life may now come before everything else—but when it comes to one public habit, they’re in complete agreement: if you’re listening to music in a shared space, headphones are the considerate choice.
