Ant McPartlin returns to work as Holly Willoughby reveals she WON’T present I’m A Celeb in 2019

Ant McPartlin is returning to work following his recovery from painkiller addiction, meeting with show bosses for Britain’s Got Talent ahead of his TV comeback next year.

And at the same time, Holly Willougby – who filled in for Ant, 43, on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – has seemingly confirmed that Ant will most definitely be back on the Australian-based reality series in 2019, despite rumours suggesting she was set to return again in his place.

At Tuesday’s Dancing On Ice launch, Holly, 37, said: ‘It was a one-off, once in a lifetime adventure.

Back to it! Ant McPartlin is returning to work following his recovery from painkiller addiction, meeting with show bosses for Britain’s Got Talent ahead of his TV comeback next year

Once in a lifetime: At the same time, Holly Willougby - who filled in for Ant on this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - has seemingly confirmed that Ant will most definitely be back on the show in 2019

Once in a lifetime: At the same time, Holly Willougby – who filled in for Ant on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – has seemingly confirmed that Ant will most definitely be back on the show in 2019

‘Next year, I’ll be at home with everyone else having a glass of wine watching it.’

Ant’s return to work sees him re-join his long-time TV presenting partner Declan Donnelly, 43, for preliminary briefings ahead of next year’s BGT.

The auditions for the Simon Cowell-fronted talent show kick off in January, with the series airing a month or so later.

Ant’s personal issues – which saw him develop a painkiller addiction, end his marriage and commit a drink-driving offence – saw him sit out the last few episodes of BGT 2018, as well as Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, last spring.

Troubled: Ant's personal issues - which saw him develop a painkiller addiction, end his marriage and commit a drink-driving offence - saw him sit out the last few episodes of BGT 2018, as well as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, last spring

Troubled: Ant’s personal issues – which saw him develop a painkiller addiction, end his marriage and commit a drink-driving offence – saw him sit out the last few episodes of BGT 2018, as well as Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, last spring

He has taken the rest of the year off, skipping I’m A Celeb – but is now gearing up to get back to work.

It had been reported that ITV bosses wanted Holly – who has just returned from her month in Australia, filling absent Ant’s shoes – to host I’m A Celeb with both Ant and Dec next year after the show received its highest ever viewing figures, with a whopping 12.6 million tuning in to watch the star’s first week.

At the ITV show’s after party last Monday, Dec said of Holly: ‘There is nobody I would have preferred to stood next to.

‘We were thrilled with the ratings, they are absolutely great. Holly has been fantastic too, just brilliant. She was the one I wanted and I am thrilled she did it.’  

She's a hit! A peak audience of 12.1million viewers tuned in to watch Harry Redknapp crowned the King of the Jungle, capping off weeks of record-breaking numbers

She’s a hit! A peak audience of 12.1million viewers tuned in to watch Harry Redknapp crowned the King of the Jungle, capping off weeks of record-breaking numbers

A friend indeed: Ant revealed in August that he would be taking a break from presenting duties for the rest of 2018, with Holly standing in for the star (pictured June 2016)

A friend indeed: Ant revealed in August that he would be taking a break from presenting duties for the rest of 2018, with Holly standing in for the star (pictured June 2016)

A peak audience of 12.1 million tuned in to watch Harry Redknapp crowned the King of the Jungle during the finale, capping off weeks of record-breaking numbers for ITV’s 16-year-old ratings juggernaut.

And while viewing figures were cause for celebration, fans of the reality show were in unison in their praise for co-host Holly, gushing that she’d ‘breathed new life’ into the series, after stepping in to temporarily replace Ant. 

Amid the glowing praise were calls for Holly to present the show every year, a source told the Daily Star: ‘The original plan was for Holly to stand in while Ant was off and then hand the baton back. But she’s been such a success that producers are now keen to keep her whatever happens.

‘Many presenters would have crumbled under the pressure of joining such a big show, but Holly stepped up to the plate. The top people at ITV are now really keen to get her back next year.

Comeback:  Dec declared that ITV show Britain's Got Talent will be 'back to normal' when Ant returns

Comeback:  Dec declared that ITV show Britain’s Got Talent will be ‘back to normal’ when Ant returns

‘It now depends on whether or not she wants to do another series. Being in Australia for five weeks is a big commitment. She has her family to think about. And she also has her commitments at This Morning to think about.’ 

Holly’s This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield – whom she left temporarily to present I’m A Celeb – gushed over his telly wife’s appearance on the show, but dismissed claims of a return to the Australian jungle next year. 

He branded her stand-in role as a ‘caretaker’ stint, before quipping: ‘Don’t get too attached.’   

Back on screens: Auditions for the 2019 series kick off next month, and Ant will be there from the start after taking several months off from work commitments following a drink-driving conviction earlier this year and a stint in rehab

Back on screens: Auditions for the 2019 series kick off next month, and Ant will be there from the start after taking several months off from work commitments following a drink-driving conviction earlier this year and a stint in rehab

Stand in: Ant is also expected to return to I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019

Stand in: Ant is also expected to return to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019

Meanwhile, in a chat with the Mirror, Dec said of BGT: ‘It’s back to normal – fingers crossed it will be great.’ 

Stephen Mulhern – who presents spin off show Britain’s Got More Talent – confirmed in an interview with Good Morning Britain earlier this month that Ant was definitely returning to host the new series. 

When asked what he think’s of Ant’s BGT return, Stephen said: ‘I think it’s great, I think it’s brilliant. He’s apparently doing very well. It will be nice to have all the family back’. 

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