Ant McPartlin to 'miss' Saturday Night Takeaway, BGT and I'm A Celeb as he quits TV 'for foreseeable future'
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It's thought that Ant McPartlin will miss Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity this year after the star decided to check himself back into rehab and quit TV “for the foreseeable future”.
Crisis talks are said to be underway over the future of the three ITV shows that Ant presents alongside best pal Dec Donnelly.
While this week’s Saturday Night Takeaway has been scrapped in the wake of Ant's arrest over a suspected drink-drive crash, the following two episodes – the last ones in the series – may go ahead with Dec presenting on his own or with a celebrity guest.
Ant, 42, had already started filming Britain's Got Talent, which is due to air on TV next month.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Dec will now have to either host alone, co-host with a guest, or wait until Ant is ready to return.
A friend told The Sun: “He’s just really upset about it all just on so many levels - gutted and worried about Ant obviously and devastated he’s going back to rehab.
“But he’s also worried about the future of Ant and Dec.”
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Ant consulted Dec before a statement was released saying the star had decided to return to rehab.
His publicist said: “Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments.
“He has spoken with Dec and ITV today, and asked for time off for the foreseeable future.
(Image: Danny Martindale/WENN)
(Image: ITV)
“As such, Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday."
An ITV spokesman said: “ITV has taken a joint decision with Ant and Dec’s team not to broadcast Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.
“We will be reviewing options for the last two episodes of the series which would not feature Ant... We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.”
Ant was released from custody at 2am yesterday, and headed straight back to his West London home to be reunited with mum Christine, 61.
(Image: ITV)
She was the passenger in McPartlin’s black Mini when it crashed into two cars in Mortlake at 4pm on Sunday.
He failed a breathalyser test at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
The arrest is the latest setback for Ant who is worth £60million.
He entered rehab for the first time last year after struggling with an addiction to painkillers following a knee operation in 2015.
And in January, he confirmed he and wife Lisa Armstrong were separating after 11 years of marriage.