Beleaguered television star Ant McPartlin was searched for drugs before he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
The 42-year-old’s £26,000 John Cooper black Mini was searched by officers after he was involved in a crash with two other cars in Richmond, south west London, on Sunday.
While no substances were found, the presenter failed a breathalyser test at the scene of the crash and was arrested.
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
Ant collided with two other cars after taking his dog for a walk in Richmond Park, south west London, and spent some ten hours in police custody before he was released.
CCTV footage captured the TV presenter just seconds before he reached a mini roundabout on Lower Richmond Road and crashed into a green Mini and maroon BMW – injuring a three-year-old girl.
A spokesman for the Met Police said: ‘No drugs were found on the 42-year-old man arrested on Sunday, 18 March or in the vehicle involved in the collision.
‘The 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving after failing a roadside breathalyser test.
‘He was taken to a south London police station for questioning and has since been released under investigation.’
The Saturday Night Takeaway presenter has since been in lockdown at his £1.6million rented property in Chiswick, West London.
On Monday, he confirmed he had entered into a treatment facility and had withdrawn from all TV commitments while this weekend’s episode of Takeaway had been cancelled.
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.
This is the moment Ant McPartlin leaves the wreckage of his car, looking shaken and unsteady on his feet
Ant McPartlin arrives back at his west London home after his alleged drink-drive car crash
The green Mini, which a young girl and a couple were in, was involved in the three-vehicle collision in south-west London
The pieces of another black vehicle, possibly Ant McPartlin’s Mini, which was involved in the three-vehicle collision
The 42-year-old co-hosted Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway with his longtime telly partner Declan Donnelly at 7.30pm on Saturday night
This comes as Ant and his presenting partner and best friend, Declan Donnelly, were snubbed at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards
The presenting duo, both 42, who have won 40 National Television Awards, missed out on two awards at the prestigious ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House hotel on Tuesday.
The pair were nominated in two categories, Entertainment Performance for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Entertainment Programme for Saturday Night Takeaway.