Ant will NOT present I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here this year

Ant McPartlin will NOT present I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here this year, it’s been announced.

Ant stepped down from TV commitments earlier this year, leaving Dec to go solo on Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent.

It was announced in March that Ant was taking time off “for the foreseeable future” to seek treatment in rehab after being charged with drink driving.

He was subsequently fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty in court.

Ant’s return to TV was confirmed today but it won’t be until next year (2019).

Ant said today: “My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.

“I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.”

Dec added: “Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision.

“I’m looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.”

As well as missing out on I’m A Celebrity, Ant and Dec have announced that there will be NO new series of Saturday Night Takeaway next year.

The show usually begins filming in 2018, meaning the series will rest until 2020.

ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo commented: “ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019.

“Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I’m A Celebrity plans will be made in due course.”

Plans for I’m A Celebrity, which typically begins in November on ITV, have yet to be announced.

It was previously suggested that Dec could be joined by a new temporary co-host, with rumours including Stephen Mulhern, Holly Willoughby and Caroline Flack.

Or Dec may go solo, as he did for the Britain’s Got Talent live shows earlier this year.

Alongside the main show, Scarlett Moffatt, Joel Dommett and Joe Swash are all expected to return to host ITV2 spin-off Extra Camp.

Stick with us for all of the latest from the show this year…