Ant McPartlin has been in lockdown at his home after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving on Sunday.
The Saturday Night Takeaway presenter was in only limited contact with co-host and best friend Declan Donnelly as he stayed indoors at his £1.6million rented property in Chiswick, West London.
Discussions about the future of his TV career are reportedly being held without his involvement because he has ‘checked out’ as he enters rehab to recover from the shock crash.
Meanwhile a friend of the star’s has revealed that the 42-year-old has been hit ‘hard’ by his impending £60million divorce from Lisa, his wife of 11 years.
The TV presenter, 42, is seen appearing dazed as he climbs out of his £26,000 John Cooper, which smashed into two other cars and injured a three-year-old girl
Ant’s mother kept her head down as she walked her dogs (left). Right: Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrong during their wedding in Taplow 11 years ago
Downcast; Declan Donnelly was pictured walking in west London today after he offered support to his troubled friend Ant McPartlin
Brave face: Dec’s on TV future is in doubt after Ant said he would be staying off screen indefinitely
The friend told The Mirror: ‘It seems to be the realisation that everything he had with Lisa has slipped from his grasp and with the divorce coming up it seems so final for him.’
Another friend said the crash is a sign of the strain he is facing because of the split.
The source said: ‘Its been a very tough time with the breakdown of his marriage. Things haven’t been easy whatsoever. He was tremendously sad he couldn’t rescue the situation and things have escalated.’
Speaking to The Sun, another source said Ant is ‘completely cut off from everything’ to do with his career.
The source added: ‘His mum Christine is still at the house as she lives there too and Dec is in touch by phone — but purely as his best friend. They aren’t talking about work.
‘Ant is very ill and it would be unfair to involve him in very difficult discussions about the TV shows while so much else is going on.’
Meanwhile Dec looked downcast yesterday as he was seen out for the first time since his best friend Ant was arrested.
Donnelly is said to be ‘devastated’ at the problems that have forced his presenting sidekick to give up appearing on TV indefinitely and go back to rehab.
The 42-year-old kept his gaze on the ground as he walked with his wife Ali in west London today.
Dec, who has not spoken publicly on the arrest, is said to be ‘gutted’ for his friend of 29 years and worried for the future of the TV partnership.
The pair have previously insisted that they would only work together, writing in a joint autobiography: ‘Neither one of us would ever be on our own out there’.
There is a huge question mark over the future of the famous TV double act after Ant announced he was going into rehab and would stay off TV indefinitely.
Thoughtful: The star is said to be devastated about his best friend’s arrest and return to rehab
Together: Dec, 42, was seen out with his wife Ali Astall not far from their home this morning
A source 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.’
Another source told the paper: ‘He’s very upset and needs time to make any decisions, which is why this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Takeaway was cancelled.’
In their 2010 autobiography, Ooh! What A Lovely Pair, Dec wrote: ‘We made an agreement – whatever happened, we’d be mates forever, and neither one of us would ever be on our own out there.
‘If it all ended tomorrow, we’d still speak every day, we’d still see each other all the time and we’d still be best mates. And that’s something we’re both very proud of.’
The pair are up for two awards at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards being held in London tonight.
Focused; Dec looked pensive as he stepped out with his wife two days after Ant’s arrest
Duo: The pair looked deep in thought as they walked along with their dog
En route: The pair looked solemn as they headed out for a walk with their pooch
Sombre; Dec looked to be deep in thought as he walked along after his pal’s arrest
Outing: The pair strolled along in silence as they headed out for the day
Chat: Ali spoke to Dec as the pair were spotted for the first time since Ant’s arrest
Lots to think about: The pair kept a low profile as they headed into the street
TV favourites: The Sun reports the 42-year-old presenter, who has not spoken publicly on the arrest, is ‘gutted’ for his friend of 29 years, and worried for the future of the TV partnership
The 42-year-old looks down at the damage to the front of his car, before he walks out. Both front seat airbags appear to have been triggered by the impact of the crash
Faheem Vanoo and Shilpa Dandekar say their experience has been ‘a nightmare’ and the family (pictured together last year) are ‘shocked and dazed’
The green Mini (pictured yesterday) in which the girl who was injured was travelling
Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway is nominated in the best Entertainment Programme category, which it won last year. The pair are also up for the Entertainment Performance Award for their work on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Ant is expected to stay away from the event. Dec has yet to confirm whether he will attend.
This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have said their friend Ant must take responsibility for his actions.
The TV presenters appeared sombre as they addressed McPartlin’s recent troubles, which have seen him step down from his television commitments in order to return to rehab.
Schofield said they were ‘shocked and saddened’ by the news and that it was difficult for them to talk about because they were ‘talking about a friend’.
He added: ‘The overwhelming feeling we believe has to be that, no matter who you are, no matter what you do, if you get into a car having had a drink the responsibility is entirely yours. We wish Ant and all those involved in these sad events all the very best.’
The star’s mother, Christine Woodhall, left his house today as he prepares for rehab
Christine, who reportedly suffered some bruises from the incident, put on a brave face as she walked her dogs
Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield broke their silence on the issue on This Morning today
The two This Morning presenters were criticised by fans on Twitter on Monday for not speaking of McPartlin’s arrest, despite it being covered on ITV’s other daily programmes including Good Morning Britain.
It comes amid claims that Ant and Dec’s brand, honed over more than two decades, is under threat after the crash.
Brand expert Marcel Knobil told The Daily Star the pair’s clean-cut and family friendly image could be permanently damaged by the incident.
He said: ‘They are such a resilient brand and that has been demonstrated by the fact that it wasn’t too badly damaged by his previous troubles. But a brand has a breaking point and this could be it.
‘It’s very important to recognise that it’s only the most popular celebrities that are forgiven and that’s what he is. He has been forgiven to date but this really does up the volume’.
Popular Saturday evening show Saturday Night Takeaway will not broadcast this coming weekend, while a decision has yet to be taken about the remaining episodes in the series.
Tough times: This comes amid claims that the TV duo’s brand, honed over more than two decades, is under threat after the crash
Ant and Dec at last year’s Royal Television Society Awards. Ant is expected to stay away from this year’s ceremony following his arrest on suspicion of drink driving
A rep for Ant and Dec told MailOnline: ‘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. As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.’
While an ITV spokesman said: ‘TV 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 (March 31 and April 7) which would not feature Ant who is taking time off to seek treatment. We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.’
Ant – who split from wife Lisa Armstrong earlier this year after 11 years of marriage – was arrested at 4pm on Sunday after allegedly hitting two cars in his black Mini sports car while driving with his mother in Richmond, south west London.
He said: ‘They are such a resilient brand and that has been demonstrated by the fact that it wasn’t too badly damaged by his previous troubles. But a brand has a breaking point and this could be it’
Restaurant owner Faheem Vanoo and his wife Shilpa Dandekar were travelling with their four-year-old daughter Amaira when their green Mini was involved in a head-on collision with another Mini driven by the presenter.
Mr Vanoo said Faheem he does not care ‘whether [McPartlin is] a millionaire’ or ‘a famous TV star – he could have put my daughter in a wheelchair’.
Ant attended last year’s ceremony with this now estranged wife Lisa Armstrong
The whole experience has just been a nightmare,’ Faheem told MailOnline.
‘It is not something that we ever expected, but we are just grateful that no one was hurt.
‘It has been a terrible experience and it feels like we are coming out of a nightmare. It has left us all a bit shaken up.’
Meanwhile a close member of McPartlin’s family said the Saturday Night Takeaway star is ‘distraught’ that children were involved in the crash.
Speaking to The Mirror, the family member added: ‘He is going through a bad time.
‘Ant and [his mother] Christine have bruises. They are sore and in shock. Thankfully everyone was fine and it was bruising rather than any serious injuries.’
An onlooker, Jake Spencer, said the Britain’s Got Talent star was argumentative towards cops when they tried to put him in a police car after he failed a breath test.
Saturday Night Takeaway is CANCELLED so Ant McPartlin can check back into rehab after arrest
Saturday Night Takeaway has been pulled from TV schedules this week following Ant McPartlin’s arrest on suspicion of drink driving.
The decision could spell the end of the long-running TV duo’s stellar career on the nation’s TV screens.
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 (March 31 and April 7) which would not feature Ant who is taking time off to seek treatment. We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.’
McPartlin’s publicist said in a statement: ‘Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments.
Ant McPartlin presents the show with co-host Dec Donnelly (pictured on Saturday night) and was arrested on Sunday morning
‘He has spoken with Dec and ITV today and asked for time off for the foreseeable future. As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.’
The crash and Ant’s ensuing absence will also be a disaster for Dec Donnelly, who will struggle to appear on TV without his long-time partner.
Fans went online this afternoon to express their worries for the future of the show and others which Ant and Dec present.
Saturday Night Takeaway is sponsored by Suzuki in a £20million deal and Ant and sidekick Dec are also paid to appear in adverts for the car maker.
But marketing bosses at the Japanese motor giant will be furious that troubled Ant was involved in the crash after allegedly being over the drink drive limit.
Ant also appears in adverts for gambling firm 32Red and was recently the face of supermarket chain Morrisons with Dec in a multi-million deal.
But after a girl was injured in Sunday’s smash his once squeaky-clean image – that has allowed him to amass a £60million fortune – is now in tatters.
The firms could decide to pull the plug on future deals if he goes on to be convicted of drink driving and the smash has led fans to demand he be given the boot from the ITV1 show until the conclusion of legal proceedings.
Ant is also an ambassador for a host of charities – including the Prince’s Trust, ChildLine, the NSPCC. And he is a patron of Cash for Kids and the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.
Some fans want Stephen Mulhern – who also appears on the show – to partner Dec as co-host.
Others suggested that Scarlett Moffatt could end up replacing Ant if he does not appear on Saturday.
Ant McPartlin ‘could have wiped out my family’ in ‘drink-drive’ smash, says father of injured girl – as TV star returns to rehab after footage showed him emerging from his crashed Mini
Shilpa Dandekar and her daughter Amaira were involved in the crash with Ant
The family involved in a horror crash with Ant McPartlin said the TV star was ‘driving like a maniac’ and could have killed them all.
Restaurant owner Faheem Vanoo and his wife Shilpa Dandekar were travelling with their four-year-old daughter Amaira when their green Mini was involved in a head-on collision with another Mini driven by the presenter.
The Sunday afternoon crash left the dad and his daughter ‘shocked and dazed’ – but without any serious injuries.
Mr Vanoo said Faheem he does not care ‘whether [McPartlin is] a millionaire’ or ‘a famous TV star – he could have put my daughter in a wheelchair’.
But furious Shilpa told The Sun – after MailOnline revealed the identity of the family in the crash – that she had to be held back after the collision because she wanted to smash McPartlin in the face.
MailOnline graphic shows how Ant’s crash apparently unfolded on Sunday afternoon
Her husband, Faheem, explained: ‘His Mini came flying around a sharp corner on the wrong side of the road trying to overtake a blue car. I hardly had time to react and turned in towards the kerb to avoid a head-on collision.
‘I’m convinced that split-second turn of the wheel saved us all from being crippled or killed. I reckon he was doing 50 or 60mph.’
He added: ‘The horn of his car was blaring and my little girl was crying in shock. It was a terrible, chaotic scene.’
Meanwhile a close member of McPartlin’s family said the Saturday Night Takeaway star is ‘distraught’ that children were involved in the crash.
Speaking to The Mirror, the family member added: ‘He is going through a bad time.
‘Ant and [his mother] Christine have bruises. They are sore and in shock. Thankfully everyone was fine and it was bruising rather than any serious injuries.’
Shilpa said she suffered a bust lip while daughter Amaira was assessed in an ambulance but did not require further treatment.
‘The whole experience has just been a nightmare,’ Faheem told MailOnline.
‘It is not something that we ever expected, but we are just grateful that no one was hurt.
‘It has been a terrible experience and it feels like we are coming out of a nightmare. It has left us all a bit shaken up.’
Faheem said he had been asked not to talk directly about the accident by police.
Faheem Vanoo pictured with the Mini that was hit by Ant McPartlin’s car in Mortlake on Sunday
But he added: ‘I cannot talk about certain things, but the main thing is that we are all safe. My daughter and wife are okay and were not injured.’
Asked if he had been contacted by McPartlin, he replied: ‘I cannot talk about that.’ An ambulance was called to the scene of the crash on the Lower Richmond Road in south west London but was not used to transport any patient to hospital.
Amaira was taken to West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth by her parents for a check up and was not kept in overnight for any treatment. Faheem said: ‘She is fine. We are all okay.’
The restaurant boss was driving his 2017 registered green Mini when it was in collision with a sporty version of the same car with Ant at the wheel.
Faheem’s Mini suffered extensive damage to the nearside front wheel while Ant’s £26,000 Mini had its front nearside wheel completely sheared off.
Witnesses said Ant, who was returning home from walking his dog in Richmond Park, lost control of his car on a sharp bend after exiting a mini roundabout.
Faheem, who is originally from Mumbai, India, runs an Indian restaurant in Fulham called Pure Indian Cooking with his wife.
Shilpa trained at the Taj hotel group in India, before moving to the UK and cooking in various British pubs.
MailOnline’s video shows the passers-by asking a startled McPartlin if he is OK. The telly favourite appears to nod as he stumbles and holds on to his car door
She has also worked as a sous chef in Quilon, and was Raymond Blanc’s choice of head chef at London’s first Brasserie Blanc.
Her husband has formerly managed at London’s Bombay Brasserie Indian restaurant and an assistant manager the Taj Resort and Hotel in central London. The couple have run their own restaurant since 2015.
On its website, Faheem describes how he and his wife began their culinary careers at the Taj group of hotels in India.
It says: ‘Since then, with Faheem managing front of house and Shilpa, who has worked with such masterchefs as the legendary Raymond Blanc OBE and Sriram Aylur of the Michelin starred Quilon, heading the kitchen, the restaurant has amassed a strong following as a refined as an exceedingly good local restaurant, with many clientele calling it a London ‘West End restaurant in Fulham!’