Donnelly, who was a Catholic priest for 30 years – most recently at St Joseph’s Church in Stanley, County Durham – died peacefully in hospital on Friday afternoon after reportedly collapsing on Thursday night. A statement from the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said: “This has come as a great shock to us all.” He said he had suffered a short illness. “Please pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, especially his mother, in your prayers at this difficult time.” TV star Declan, 46, tweeted: “It breaks my heart to tell you that my beloved brother Fr Dermott, TweeterPriest, has sadly passed away this afternoon. We are all beyond devastated. Thank you for your messages of support and support, we appreciate them DD.” In April Dermot was invited by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit 10 Downing Street with other religious leaders to pray for peace in Ukraine. He said at the time: “It was a moment when the power of vulnerability met the vulnerability of power. The best weapon we had was prayer.” The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Robert Byrne said Donnelly “will be sorely missed in the diocese for his outstanding work with youth, both diocesanly and nationally”. He added: “He was a good and faithful priest.” Dermot was eight years older than his brother Declan, one half of TV duo Ant and Dec, and officiated at his wedding to Ali Astall in Newcastle in 2015. The brothers and their five siblings grew up on Newcastle’s Cruddas Park estate. Donnelly was regularly seen in the audience at his brother’s shows in London, with the presenter often traveling to the North East to attend mass and visit youth programs organized by his older brother. Speaking in 2015 about his relationship with his famous younger brother, Dermott said his association with a household name helped him bridge the generation gap with young parishioners. “I don’t advertise that I’m Dec’s brother, but the kids always seem to know. It bridges the gap between me and them.” Declan Donnelly, who said he briefly considered a career in the church, began his acting career in the early 90s opposite Ant McPartlin in the BBC teen drama Byker Grove. Together, the pair went on to present shows such as I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. Does Britain have talent? and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.