Declan Donnelly ‘rushes to see his extremely unwell’ brother Dermott after he was hospitalised

Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent host Declan Donnelly has rushed to his older brother’s bedside after he was admitted to hospital with a ‘mystery illness’. 

Dermott Donnelly, a much loved Roman Catholic priest based in the family’s native north-east, is being treated at North Durham hospital after collapsing in his Newcastle parish.  

It’s understood that Donnelly, 55, is ‘extremely unwell’ following the incident, with parishioners urged to pray for his wellbeing during their next congregation. 

A statement from Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes read: ‘Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital.

‘Tomorrow evening between 6pm-7pm there will be a period of time before the Blessed Sacrament so that we can come together as a community in St Joseph’s Church to pray for Father Dermott’s welfare.

‘Please be respectful to Father Dermott and his family at this difficult time, we will update you as and when we receive the most up to date information verified by the Diocese.’

Tragic: The star’s younger brother – a Roman Catholic priest – is ‘extremely unwell’ and was hospitalised after collapsing in a ‘sudden’ incident

A source told The Sun: ‘Dec arrived with other family members. There are around 12 of them there at the hospital. It was very sudden and everyone is just praying he pulls through.’ 

Dec, who is eight years younger than his brother, has previously spoken about their close relationship. 

Dermott is a regular visitor to his brother’s traditionally London based shows, while the presenter travels to the north-east frequently to attend Mass and visit the youth projects which have been a labour of love for Dermott since the 1990s.

The Priest had started out as a curate in Chester-le-Street until, two years later, he was asked by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to set up a youth programme aimed at introducing disadvantaged youngsters to the Catholic Church.

A statement from the Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes read: ‘Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital’

Support: Dermott, 55, is described as being ‘seriously ill’, with his congregation gathering to pray for him

He transformed the Youth Ministry Team into a thriving concern, and in 2010 launched the Global Youth Village Centre on a former holiday camp in County Durham.

Over a 30 years period he has continued raising money for the youth ministry, building the Emmaus Youth Village and developing appropriate youth leaders across the world. 

In April he visited outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, where he joined religious leaders including His Excellency the Papal Nuncio and His Eminence the Cardinal and members of the hierarchy of Ukrainian church in the UK to pray for peace in war-torn Ukraine.

He said at the time: ‘It was a real privilege to join Christian leaders from across many churches at Downing Street and to stand together in prayer, the silence was so profound. 

‘It was a moment when the power of vulnerability encountered the vulnerability of power. The best weapon we had was prayer.’ 

A source told The Sun : ‘Dec arrived with other family members. There are around 12 of them there at the hospital’

Brothers: Dec, who is eight years younger than his big brother, has previously spoken about his close relationship with his brother

Dec is one of seven children, and was raised on Newcastle’s Cruddas Park estate with three brothers – Martin, Eamonn and Dermott – and three sisters – Camelia, Patricia and Moira.

The millionaire presenter has been able to buy his mother a £600,000 house in the upmarket Darras Hall area of Ponteland, near Newcastle, where neighbours include former England football captain Alan Shearer.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.  

Connection: Dermott is a regular visitor to his brother’s shows, while Declan travels to the North-East frequently to attend Mass and visit the youth projects which have been a labour of love for Dermott since the Nineties