Person of the Year 2018: Declan Donnelly

Declan Donnelly (Image: Smooth Radio)

Every year, TIME Magazine give their verdict on who is their "Person of the Year". It is a hugely iconic feature which recognises the world's biggest moments of the past twelve months and link it to one person or a group of people. The title has given the honours this year to journalists who have either died or been imprisoned, simply for doing their job. One of the biggest cases came from Saudi reporter Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally murdered in Istanbul in Turkey, creating a diplomatic headache for allies of Saudi Arabia.

For the last couple of years, I've done my own little version of "Person of the Year". I mentioned a few names for 2016 because that was a rather tumultuous year and there were several uplifting stories that needed to be recognised. For 2017, I couldn't look any further than Meghan Markle who wouldn't surprise me if she'd be TIME Magazine's "Person of the Year" on multiple occasions, for years to come.

This year has been difficult to pinpoint an individual or group which I felt impacted society for the greater good, and I'm sure TIME also had their struggles too. It's easy for me to opt for the #MeToo movement because the campaign has gathered so much momentum these past twelve months. Yet, being a person who strives to be different, I've chosen someone who, sadly, won't come close to winning the TIME accolade, but I find space to honour this particular individual. Unless he breaks America, of course.

So you're probably why I've chosen Declan Donnelly as my "Person of the Year". Who, asks Americans, Europeans, and probably everyone in the world apart from Britain? He is a musician turned TV presenter - an inarguable national treasure. And since the early 1990s, has been best recognised as being one half of "Ant and Dec", with Anthony McPartlin.

Anthony McPartlin (Image: Hello Magazine)

The whole world should know who Mr Donnelly is, as the Newcastle-born personality continues to peak. To date, his career continues to dazzle and shows no sign of stopping. He started life on TV from the age of 12, in the late 1980s, on CBBC's Byker Grove to which he met Mr McPartlin. They clicked almost immediately, quickly joining forces as a duo called "PJ and Duncan". Starting their partnership in the music scene, they released a single in 1994, "Let's get ready to rhumble" - yes, rhumble with an 'h' - reaching number nine in the UK charts.

Their likeable bond was obvious to many, and ITV saw their potential beyond music, giving them presenting roles that would truly skyrocket their careers. From the mid-90s to the present day, they've presented - among others - The Ant and Dec Show, The Big Breakfast, SMTV Live, Pop Idol, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent. These programmes are arguably the biggest and among the most talked about in their time. I'm A Celebrity has been around for 16 years, Saturday Night Takeaway for 12 years and Britain's Got Talent since 2007. Together, Ant and Dec have deservedly won countless number of awards. They even got "Let's get ready to rhumble" to number one in 2013. It seemed clear that nothing was going to stop them, as they all but seal their status as the best known and loved duo in the UK since the two Ronnies. It takes years to perfect such a glittering partnership.

In 2017 however, things started to change. Ant found himself in the centre of personal turmoil, through alcohol, drugs and family troubles. This gave the tabloids a huge feast, feeding onto their addiction of delivering juicy and dirty scoops. For millions of adoring fans, myself included, it was utterly heart-breaking to see Ant being hounded in such a way. He vacated to rehabilitation and vowed to return to work, which he did in time for I'm A Celebrity 2017.

Ant's recovery was going really well until a relapse, triggered by a drink driving offence. This very public story occurred in the middle of their 2018 series of Saturday Night Takeaway, leaving him little choice but to re-enter rehabilitation and stay away from the limelight. This left Dec in unfamiliar territory. Never in such a long time had there been Dec with no Ant. Many keyboard warriors didn't think Dec would carry on, pessimistically believing that they were too reliant on each other. He could have taken a hiatus, of course. I'm sure ITV, their faithful and loyal employer, would have happily had them in their books during an extended absence.

But this is where Dec deserves such plaudits. While he avidly supports his best friend in private, he keeps going on in public. He carried on Saturday Night Takeaway with his co-presenters Scarlett Moffatt and Stephen Mulhern, went solo during the live shows of Britain's Got Talent and has just finished a series of I'm A Celebrity with Holly Willoughby. But what I find remarkable is that, during this process, he has kept his authentic style and ensured he can be both Dec and Declan Donnelly, while making it look as if Ant is still around, even if he is taking an official break from TV presenting for a year.

The duo with few of many NTAs they've won (Image: Daily Express)

Why is it so important I make Dec "Person of the Year" on the basis I've stated here? Over the past few years, deepened by the political divisions we've seen worldwide, nowadays, the value of friendship, sacrifice, respect and humility is often forgotten. It is so easy to turn your back on things today that truly mattered only yesterday. Dec has created a powerful legacy only a small handful of media personalities can proudly say they achieved. And as he's associated himself for almost all of that time with his best friend, companion, confidante, best man, brother from another mother, facing a very public decision he was pressured in making, it must have taken every fibre of his mind-set to carry on and still be all those things to his 'other half' while continuing professionalism in front of camera practically exposed.

Both Ant and Dec bring so much joy to the British public at moments when people needed it the absolute most. They revel in delivering that delight too, and hence why they continue to be the incredible humans we see them on screen. We've seen Dec go through obstacles this year that nobody thought he would endure. Doing something without Ant must still be excruciating, even if his bond with Holly Willoughby and the like can reach dizzying heights also. Nothing can compare doing something you love with your closest mate. As we soon enter 2019, let's think of the positivity and 'carry on' attitude Dec's portrayed this past year and emulate to the best of our abilities.