Ant McPartlin reveals Declan Donnelly's 'anger' over drink-driving charge
Ant McPartlin has confessed tensions were high between himself and TV partner Declan Donnelly after a drink driving incident forced him into rehab.
McPartlin went on a temporary hiatus last March, leaving Donnelly to present their flagship shows, Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity without him.
He said Donnelly was “angry” – but that they knew his drink driving charge had not caused irreparable damage to their friendship.
Speaking about their conversation the day after the crash, he said: “He’s angry, of course he’s angry.
“But it's justified and I understood it. Underneath all of that is love and still is love. And that's what we talked about more than anything.”
He continued: “I said to Dec, ‘I just need to take time out and re-evaluate and get better and deal with things going on in my life. It will take as long as it takes’.
“I’m very lucky that I’ve got an understanding business partner and best friend who said, ‘Absolutely, your head is more important than anything’. I had to lock myself away.”
McPartlin was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after he crashed his Mini in March last year while more than twice the alcohol limit.
In the same interview he credited his new girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett with being his “rock” during the turbulent year. The pair started dating in the wake of his split, and subsequent divorce, from Lisa Armstrong in early 2018.
McPartlin returned to work last Friday at the London auditions for Britain’s Got Talent, telling the audience: “I’m really, really emotional now. I’ve missed you all.” He also walked his first red carpet since his rehab stint as he was filmed enjoying afternoon tea with Donnelly.
He will return to I’m A Celebrity later this year after being temporarily replaced by Holly Willoughby. Saturday Night Takeaway has been taken off air until 2020 to allow him more time to recover.
