Declan Donnelly to bid emotional farewell to his late Roman Catholic priest brother Dermott at funeral after he died following a mystery illness
- Declan Donnelly is set to lay his beloved brother to rest at a funeral next Friday before flying off to film I’m A Celebrity
- The 46-year-old TV star raced to be by his sibling Father Dermott Donnelly’s side after he collapsed earlier this month but the priest’s death was later confirmed by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
- Friends and family of Father Donnelly, who died at the age of 55, will gather in Newcastle next week to bid an emotional farewell and pay their respects
- Father Dermott was taken into hospital earlier this month after a series illness and his body will be received into St Michael’s, Newcastle on Thursday
Declan Donnelly is set to lay his beloved brother to rest at a funeral next Friday before flying off to film I’m A Celebrity.
The 46-year-old TV star raced to be by his sibling Father Dermott Donnelly’s side after he collapsed earlier this month but the priest’s death was later confirmed by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
Friends and family of Father Donnelly, who died at the age of 55, will gather in Newcastle next week to bid an emotional farewell and pay their respects.
Paying respects: Declan Donnelly, 46, is set to lay his beloved brother to rest at a funeral next Friday before flying off to film I’m A Celebrity (pictured in May)
In addition to loved ones from Dec’s parents’ native Ireland, priests and clerics from across the North East region of England, where Dermott served in the Catholic church, will attend, according to the Mirror.
The Donnelly family said in a statement: ‘Due to limited space, we would encourage those who wish to participate in the Requiem Mass on Friday 29 July to gather at St Michael’s church.
‘The Mass will be live-streamed and Holy Communion will be made available. Following the Requiem Mass, Fr Dermott’s cortege will pass St Michael’s for those who wish to pay their respects.’

Sad news: The TV star raced to be by his Father Dermott Donnelly’s side after he collapsed earlier this month but the priest later died after a serious illness (Father Dermott pictured in 2015)
Father Dermott was taken into hospital after a series illness and his body will be received into St Michael’s, Newcastle on Thursday.
In a statement after Dermott’s death, the Donnelly family said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly who died peacefully this afternoon in hospital.
‘This has come as a great shock to all of us.
‘Please pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, especially his mother, in your prayers at this difficult time.’

Siblings: Declan Donnelly’s brother (centre) died aged 55 after being rushed to hospital with a ‘mystery illness’ (Pictured: Ant and Dec with Dec’s brother Dermott)

Heartache: The TV presenter wrote on Twitter: ‘I am heartbroken to tell you that my darling brother Fr Dermott, @TweeterPriest, sadly passed away this afternoon’
An insider had earlier revealed to The Sun how Dec – one half of the presenting duo Ant and Dec – had returned to the north east of England to join his family at Father Dermott’s bedside.
They told how the priest’s loved ones had been praying that he would ‘pull through’ after becoming ‘extremely unwell’ in hospital.
The source said: ‘Dec arrived with other family members. There are around 12 of them there at the hospital.’
Father Dermott conducted Dec’s wedding to Ali Astall in 2015 in front of a star-studded guest list, which included the star’s TV sidekick Ant McPartlin and presenter Dermot O’Leary.
The parish priest from County Durham was also recently pictured outside 10 Downing Street after being invited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to join religious leaders to pray for peace in Ukraine.
Dec is due to fly to South Africa to begin filming a brand new all-stars version of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, which is due to run as a stand alone show in addition to the usual annual event.
ITV bosses have signed up Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 46, to host the show and legendary contestants from the past will compete, taking part in trials while living in camp in South Africa.
Campmates will be doing trials and living in the camp environment – votes will be internal, rather than by the public.
It is expected to air in 2023 with the usual I’m A Celebrity series airing separately later this year.

Extra jungle fun: A brand new all stars version of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is set to be filmed in South Africa, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 46, hosting
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