Declan Donnelly admits ‘I nearly got arrested’ as he details supermarket blunder: ‘I just walked off’
Declan Donnelly has revealed he accidentally shoplifted from Marks & Spencer after walking away from a self-service checkout without paying.
The 50-year-old TV presenter made the confession during a conversation with Ant McPartlin on their Hanging Out with Ant & Dec podcast, joking that he “nearly got arrested” over the blunder.
The ITV star explained that the mishap occurred at Bridgwater Services while returning from a few days away in Cornwall.
Opening the story with the dramatic admission, Mr Donnelly told his longtime presenting partner: “I nearly got arrested yesterday.”
Declan Donnelly has revealed he accidentally walked out of an M&S without paying
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A surprised Mr McPartlin responded: “What do you mean, nearly got arrested?”
Mr Donnelly explained that he and his wife regularly stop at motorway services with an M&S, where he had picked up sandwiches before heading to a self-service checkout.
He recalled: “So I start bleeping it. Bleep, bleep, bleep. Put everything in the bag. Bleep my Sparks card. And then I just walk off.”
Mr McPartlin immediately pointed out: “You didn’t pay for it!”
Ant McPartlin was left stunned as his longtime presenting partner admitted what had happened
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“I know! Declan Donnelly is a thief!” the presenter joked, admitting he had put everything in his bag and “wandered off”.
It was only once Mr Donnelly was back on the road and had started eating that he realised his mistake.
“As I was tucking into my egg and maple bacon sandwich, with a mouthful of egg and bacon sandwich, I went, ‘I haven’t paid for this!'” he recalled.
The realisation prompted the presenter to attempt to contact the service station as he became increasingly worried about the consequences.
Mr Donnelly joked about police pursuing him before admitting: “So I had to ring the services. Couldn’t get through, first of all.”
Unable to reach the store himself, the I’m A Celebrity presenter contacted his office for help.
He recalled telling colleagues: “I have just shoplifted from Bridgwater Services. My heart rate is slightly raised. I think I’m going to get arrested.
“Because they know it was me. They knew it was me.”
The blunder took place at Marks and Spencer Bridgwater services
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His team eventually managed to contact the services and explained that the television star had left without paying.
Mr Donnelly said they told staff: “Dec’s just been in. He’s just shoplifted. What can we do to resolve the situation?”
Staff told them there was nothing they could do to take payment retrospectively and instead suggested he make a charitable donation.
Mr Donnelly said: “They said, ‘Thank you for your honesty, but honestly, there’s nothing we can do now. But please donate to our charity,’ which I think was Mind.
Ant and Dec discussed the hilarious incident on their Hanging Out with Ant & Dec podcast
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GETTY“So we gave a donation to charity last night.”
Mr McPartlin couldn’t resist one final dig, quipping that the donation was “slightly under what your sandwiches would have come to” and repeated that his co-presenter “almost got arrested.”
Fans of the duo took to social media to share their amusement at the situation.
One Instagram user joked: “At least you remembered to use your Sparks card!!”
Dec with his wife, Ali Astall
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Another commented: “I shall look out for Dec on the next Crimewatch UK live.”
“I hope Marks and Spencer starts beef with Ant and Dec,” penned a third. (sic)
Others shared their experience of making the same mistake.
The mishap comes amid wider scrutiny of self-service checkouts and shoplifting, with M&S chairman Archie Norman arguing earlier this year that the technology has weakened the “human link” between shoppers and staff and contributed to people leaving stores without properly paying.
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