‘Balling crying’ say fans as they watch Dec Donnelly chokes back tears with emotional family reveal

DECLAN Donnelly was moved to tears after discovering an unknown family connection.

The TV favourite came face-to-face with a surprise relative during a radio interview.

Sitting down on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, Chris Stark and Sian Welby, Dec was told that he was related to a member of the production team.

“You might be surprised to know that you are related to a member of the Capital team.

“I’m very surprised to hear that,” Dec replied with a heavy dose of skepticism.

Chris told him that it wasn’t himself or his presenter colleagues, but one of the producers.

“Really? Genuinely?” he said, looking around confused.

“Hand on heart genuinely. I know you’re suspicious about this,” Chris continued.

“Three producers are going to walk into the room and you’re going to be able to speak to each one of them.

One of them is related to you and you’ve got to work out who it is.

“And this is real?”

The presenters reassured him that this wasn’t a trick, but said that he was only alllowed to ask them one question: “What are us Donnellys known for?”

The three potential family members stood in a line in front of Dec and told him their names and where they were from.

He met Thomas from Newcastle, who claimed to be his second cousin. When he was asked by Dec what the Donnellys are known for, he replied: “I’d say we’re always the loudest in the room”.

Kaz from Dublin was next and she said that they were distant cousins. She said that the family is known for being short, which caused the room to erupt with laughter.

Then finally there was Ann, from Sydney who joked that Dec was her dad.

He was joined by his best pal Ant McPartlin who burst out laughing and said: “I believe that one, we’ve been going to Australia for over 20 years now, this could be feasible.”

Dec decided to go with Thomas due to the Newcastle connection, but he was wrong.

Upon Roman’s instruction, Kaz stepped forward.

“We are distant cousins Dec, I can absolutely confirm. We both have roots in rural South Derry. So my mum’s from Draperstown but my Grandmother is from Desertmartin, where your parents are from.

“So the connection is your uncle Charlie is my Granny’s brother in law. So she’s your auntie Rosie’s sister.”

Dec looked astounded by the discovery before he was presented with a family tree.

She then showed him a photo of his dad Edward and her Granny working together in the hayfield.

“No way!” Dec gasped, telling the team that he’d never seen that photo of his dad.

“That’s my dad! Oh my god, that’s amazing,” he said, holding his hand over his heart and tears in his eyes.

He got up and hugged Kaz.

Fans were moved by the interaction, with one writing: “Literally watched this live. Almost late on the school run as I didn’t want to miss a thing. I guess right I said Kaz as soon as she step in the room, Could see/feel his emotion. That was amazing to witness”

“balling crying this is so so lovely !!!!!” a second wrote.

Sian commented on the video: “I genuinely felt so emotional being a part of this. What an incredible moment and awesome research from our producer @kazlouize”

“I was listening to this in the car on the way to work I was so emotional I had to pull over to compose myself,” another wrote.