He’s taken indefinite leave from television and Stephen Mulhern has said that Ant McPartlin won’t be coming back to the box this year.
His words will surely dash the hopes of Ant And Dec fans who had hoped for an I’m A Celebrity return, though he says he will hopefully come back next year.
Speaking to Best, the 41-year-old said: ‘Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be back to his old self for next year.
In recovery: Ant McPartlin WON’T return to TV this year, dashing hopes of an I’m A Celebrity comeback, and work is not even being discussed with him as his health comes first
41-year-old Stephen said: ‘Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be back to his old self for next year’
‘He does need the rest and to be left alone, and given the time to recover.’
But a spokesperson for the 42-year-old told MailOnline: ‘No-one knows how long Ant will be in treatment for, or how long he will be off work.
‘He’ll be off for as long as it takes him to get better. Work is not even being discussed with him. The only priority is him getting better.’
Whether or not Declan Donnelly, 42, his TV partner of 30 years, will present alone or not, is anyone’s guess.
But a spokesperson for Ant (left) told MailOnline: ‘No-one knows how long Ant will be in treatment for, or how long he will be off work. ‘He’ll be off for as long as it takes him to get better. Work is not even being discussed with him. The only priority is him getting better’
The Mirror previously reported that Ant’s mother, Christine Woodhall, 61, has vowed to help her son ‘sort himself out’, as he continues his stint in rehab to battle drink and painkiller addiction.
Ant was fined £86,000 and banned from the road for 20 months earlier this month, after he was caught more than twice the legal limit following a crash in Richmond the month before – with his mother in the car.
While she was ‘shocked’ by the court case’s result, sources claim Christine is hoping it will help Ant overcome his demons – and is ready to support him every step of the way, despite his guilty plea.
An insider told the paper: ‘She hopes to be able to see him or speak to him. She was very shocked by the court case.
The presenter pleaded guilty to driving with 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, after his involvement in a three-car collision. The legal limit is 35 micrograms
McPartlin was arrested after losing control of his black Mini and smashing into two other cars, a Mini and a BMW, while driving in Richmond, west London on March 18.
Troubled: Ant was fined £86,000 and banned from the road for 20 months earlier this month, after he was caught more than twice the legal limit following a crash in Richmond the month before – with his mother in the car