A Child’s Painting: A Dream Built
The sterile corridors of Great Ormond Street Hospital were quieter than usual on a rainy November morning in 2024, the hum of medical equipment softened by the colorful artwork lining the walls. Declan Donnelly, there with Ant McPartlin to visit children as part of their charity work with Starlight, paused mid-step in the pediatric ward. A small painting, taped crookedly to a noticeboard, caught his eye—a vibrant sketch of a house with a red roof, green shutters, and a family holding hands under a smiling sun. Below it, in shaky child’s handwriting, were the words: “I want a real home… Love, Mia, age 8.”
Dec’s breath caught. He leaned closer, his heart tightening as he read the note again. Ant, chatting with a nurse nearby, noticed Dec’s stillness and joined him. “What’s got you, mate?” he asked, following Dec’s gaze. The painting’s simplicity—its bold colors and hopeful lines—belied the weight of Mia’s wish. The nurse explained that Mia, a foster child with a chronic illness, had spent much of her life in hospitals and temporary homes, never knowing the stability of a permanent family or place to call her own.
“I can’t walk away from this,” Dec said, his voice low but firm. “This lass deserves more than a dream on paper.” Ant nodded, his own eyes misty. “Let’s find her, and let’s make it happen—not just for Mia, but for kids like her.” That moment, sparked by a child’s painting, set Ant & Dec on a mission that would touch thousands of lives and melt hearts across the UK.
A Promise Made
Ant and Dec met Mia later that day in her hospital room, where she sat cross-legged on her bed, coloring another picture. Her dark curls framed a pale face, but her smile was bright as she recognized them from Saturday Night Takeaway. “You’re the funny telly blokes!” she giggled, clutching her crayons. Dec knelt beside her, pointing to a drawing of a dog. “Is this for your house, Mia?” he asked gently. She nodded, shyly explaining her dream: a home with a garden, a dog, and a family who’d stay forever.
Her foster carer, Karen, shared more. Mia’s illness required ongoing treatment, and her frequent hospital stays made adoption challenging. “She’s been in six foster homes,” Karen said quietly. “She keeps painting that house, like it’s her anchor.” Ant and Dec exchanged a look, their resolve hardening. They promised Mia they’d help, though they didn’t yet know how. “We’re not magicians,” Ant whispered to her, winking, “but we’re pretty good at making things happen.”
That night, over a takeaway in Dec’s London flat, Ant and Dec brainstormed. They wanted to give Mia a home, but also address the broader crisis of children in foster care longing for stability. They envisioned Mia’s Home, a charity campaign to fund permanent housing, support services, and adoption programs for children in care, especially those with medical needs. “It’s not just bricks and mortar,” Dec said. “It’s about giving kids a place to belong.”
They pitched Mia’s Home to ITV and Mitre Studios the next day, leveraging their platform to reach millions. The goal was ambitious: raise £2 million by summer 2025 to build or renovate homes for foster children and fund wraparound care. They partnered with Barnardo’s, a leading children’s charity, and contacted Mia’s social worker to ensure her involvement was safe and private. “This is personal,” Ant told the team. “Mia’s painting is our blueprint.”
A Movement Begins
Mia’s Home launched on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in December 2024, during a Christmas special that left viewers reaching for tissues. Dec shared Mia’s story, holding up a replica of her painting, his voice cracking. “This is what hope looks like,” he said, gesturing to the house with its red roof. “Mia’s dream is a home, and we’re going to build it—for her and thousands of kids in care.” Ant, standing beside him, added, “Every child deserves a place to call home. Let’s make it happen.”
The episode featured a video of Ant and Dec visiting foster homes, meeting children who echoed Mia’s longing. They played games, shared laughs, and listened to stories of resilience. A segment surprised Mia with a virtual tour of a house under renovation in Manchester, designed with her input—a red roof, green shutters, and a garden for her dreamed-of dog. Mia’s eyes widened, and she whispered, “Is that really mine?” The donation ticker climbed, hitting £600,000 by the end.
X lit up with #MiasHome, as viewers shared the clip of Dec’s emotional speech and Mia’s joyful reaction. One post read, “@antanddec are building homes for kids like Mia. This is what TV should do. #MiasHome.” Another said, “Cried watching Mia see her house. Her painting started it all.” The hashtag trended for days, with foster carers and adoptees sharing their own stories, amplifying the campaign’s reach.
Ant and Dec didn’t stop at TV. They enlisted Mul, their Newcastle artist, to create a Mia’s Home logo—a house with a heart-shaped window, inspired by Mia’s painting. The logo adorned t-shirts, mugs, and prints, with proceeds funding the campaign. They partnered with Persimmon Homes, who donated land and labor for 10 homes, and launched a “Paint for Mia” art contest, inviting children to submit house drawings for a charity auction. The auction, hosted by Cat Deeley, raised £150,000.
A Nation Builds
By spring 2025, Mia’s Home had raised £1.4 million, funding 15 homes and support programs for 2,000 children. The first home, Mia’s, was completed in Manchester, a cozy bungalow with a garden and a puppy named Sunny, chosen by Mia. Ant and Dec handed her the keys in a private ceremony, her foster carer and social worker by her side. “This is your home, Mia,” Dec said, kneeling to hug her. Mia, now 9, clutched Sunny and whispered, “It’s real.”
The campaign’s impact grew. Ant and Dec hosted a Mia’s Home gala in London, with performances by Ed Sheeran and Alesha Dixon, raising £300,000. Newcastle United, their hometown club, dedicated a match to the campaign, with players wearing heart-window armbands. Schools held “Home Days,” where students drew houses and donated pocket money, adding £50,000. X posts with #MiasHome shared photos of new homes, each with a child’s touch—painted walls, garden swings, or a favorite toy.
Beyond homes, Mia’s Home addressed systemic issues. Ant and Dec met with MPs, advocating for better funding for foster care and adoption services. “Kids like Mia need more than a roof,” Ant told a parliamentary committee. “They need love and stability.” Their efforts led to a government review of medical foster care, a step toward reform.
By June 2025, Mia’s Home hit its £2 million goal during a Takeaway finale, broadcast from Manchester. Ant and Dec invited Mia’s foster carer onstage, sharing an update: Mia was thriving, and her home was a model for others. The donation ticker reached £2.3 million, and the audience roared. “One painting started this,” Dec said, holding up Mia’s artwork. “Now we’re building homes for kids everywhere.”
A Legacy of Love
Mia’s Home became a permanent initiative, with Ant and Dec planning annual drives to fund more homes. They launched a mentorship program, pairing foster children with volunteers, and a “Dream Wall” website, where kids could share their home visions. X remained alive with #MiasHome, posting stories of families settled in new houses, their lives transformed.
For Dec, Mia’s painting was a touchstone. He kept a framed copy in his office, a reminder of the girl who’d stopped him in his tracks. “One child’s dream changed us,” he told Ant over coffee. Ant nodded, grinning. “She painted a house, and we built a movement.”
In Manchester, Mia ran through her garden with Sunny, her laughter echoing. She’d started painting again, now sketching families and homes for other kids. One day, she sent Ant and Dec a new drawing—a row of houses under a smiling sun, with the words, “Thank you for my home.” Dec pinned it beside the first, and Ant smiled, knowing a child’s painting had melted hearts and built a legacy of love that would stand for generations.
