Ant McPartlin has revealed he was ‘moved to tears’ after watching I’m A Celebrity star Barry McGuigan emotionally discussing his grief following his daughter’s death.
The presenter, 49, shared that watching Barry break down over his daughter Danika’s passing ‘really got to him,’ as he and co-host Declan Donnelly discussed the show on ITV2 spin-off Unpacked on Monday.
In the main show, viewers praised Barry for opening up about his grief as he discussed his daughter Danika’s death during Monday night’s episode.
Ant, who became a father earlier this year, told hosts Joel Dommett, Kemi Rodgers and Sam Thompson that he watched the emotional scenes prior to their broadcast, and said: ‘That really got me.
‘We watched it earlier in the day, before the show, and I was crying. I can’t image losing a child and he didn’t want to go there but he couldn’t help it. I thought the campmates were really lovely with him.’
Ant McPartlin has revealed he was ‘moved to tears’ after watching I’m A Celebrity star Barry McGuigan emotionally discussing his grief following his daughter’s death
Barry’s daughter Danika passed away in 2019 when she was just 33 after a battle with cancer, and the boxer opened up about his grief in the wake of her passing during Monday’s show.
Fans dubbed the ’emotional’ moment the ‘most moving in I’m A Celeb history’ as all the campmates broke down in floods of tears while supporting Barry.
Viewers wrote on X: ‘That was one of the most moving moments in the history of I’m a celeb. Such a likeable bunch – put them all in the final!!! #ImACeleb’.
Barry revealed Danika struggled with her health from a young age, after being diagnosed with Leukaemia when she was just 11 years old.
Barry told the camp: ‘(Danika) had leukaemia, when I was making the boxing with Daniel Day Lewis.
‘Three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia.
‘They thought she wasn’t going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.’
As he began to cry campmates gathered around with Danny Jones and Tulisa offering a hug, as Barry gushed: ‘Thank you, you’re all so lovely, I really appreciate it.’
In the main show, viewers praised Barry for opening up about his grief as he discussed his daughter Danika’s death during Monday night’s episode
Fans dubbed the ’emotional’ moment the ‘most moving in I’m A Celeb history’ as all the campmates broke down in floods of tears while supporting Barry
The boxer spoke about the actress’ passing, who lost her battle with cancer in 2019 aged 33 (pictured in 2008)
Later going to tell Loose Women’s Jane Moore about Danika’s second and final bout with cancer, he said: ‘She had pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in.
‘Stage 4 bowel cancer, five weeks, five weeks she died.’
Danika McGuigan, who worked as an actress, passed away surrounded by her ‘devastated’ family.
She had starred in films including Philomena, Mammal and Wildlife and was known as Nika McGuigan in her professional work.
Danika attended Princess Anne’s old school Benenden in Kent before completing a drama degree in Dublin.
Fans dubbed the ’emotional’ moment the ‘most moving in I’m A Celeb history’ as all the campmates broke down in floods of tears while supporting Barry
Barry told the camp: ‘(Danika) had leukaemia, when I was making the boxing with Daniel Day Lewis. Three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia’
As he began to cry campmates gathered around with Danny Jones and Tulisa offering a hug, as Barry gushed: ‘Thank you, you’re all so lovely, I really appreciate it’
A family statement at the time read: ‘It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Danika ‘Nika’ McGuigan,’
‘After a brief but brave battle against cancer, Nika passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, July 23, surrounded by her loving family.
‘As a family we are devastated and ask for complete privacy during this difficult period to allow us to grieve for our Nika.’
Danika was Barry’s only daughter, alongside her three brothers Shane, Jake and Blane.
Shane has followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming one of boxing’s most successful trainers.
Her mother, Sandra, has been married to her father Barry for more than thirty years.
Speaking of his daughter’s cancer diagnoses in 1997, he told The Sunday Times in 2005: ‘Finding out that Danika had leukaemia was like being hit with a sledgehammer.
‘There’s nothing worse than your child getting sick. No amount of fighting in the ring could have prepared me for it.’
Danika McGuigan, who worked as an actress, passed away surrounded by her ‘devastated’ family (pictured with her father in 1994)
Danika’s death following a ‘brave battle with cancer’ was announced by her family in a statement on 24th July 2019 (pictured in 2011)
Barry is pictured alongside his wife Sandra, one of his sons and his daughter Danika
After about a year and a half out of school, Danika returned to school – and in a heartbreaking conversation with her father – said she wouldn’t get sick again. She just got on with her life, Barry said.
He continued: ‘She found a love of drama and is now at acting school in Dublin. The word ‘dynamo’ doesn’t do her justice.
‘With Danika the glass is never half-empty and never half-full. It’s completely full. In fact, it’s probably spilling over.’
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
