I’m A Celebrity’s older brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, is… Declan Donnelly, the host of Get Me Out of Here, has died in hospital following a brief illness.

The priest brother of television host Declan Donnelly has passed away at age 55.

Father Dermott Donnelly, parish priest at St. Joseph’s Church in Stanley, County Durham, passed away quietly in hospital on Friday afternoon, following a brief illness.

During his dying hours, Declan Donnelly, 46, was allegedly at his brother’s bedside with family members.

The celebrity tweeted: “I regret to inform you that my beloved brother, Fr. Dermott, passed away this afternoon. All of us are absolutely devastated. Thank you for your condolences and support; they are greatly appreciated.”

According to a statement released by the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, “We regret to tell you of the passing of Fr. Dermott Donnelly, who passed away quietly in hospital this afternoon.

“This has come as a tremendous surprise to us all.

Please pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family in your prayers, particularly his mother, through this difficult time.

In 2015, Father Dermott officiated Donnelly’s wedding to Ali Astall in Newcastle, with guests including Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Dermot O’Leary, and Ant McPartlin, Donnelly’s presenting partner.

Boris Johnson, the departing prime minister, recently invited Father Dermott to Number 10 to pray for peace among other religious leaders following the invasion of Ukraine.

The revered priest praised the visit as a “true honour” and stated that “prayer was our greatest weapon.”

The host of I’m A Celebrity is the youngest of seven siblings.

Before achieving success in show business, the actor and presenter stated he briefly pondered following in his older brother’s footsteps and becoming a priest.