Ant McPartlin is stepping down from his TV commitments ‘for the foreseeable future’, it’s been announced.
Saturday Night Takeaway’s latest episode this evening has been cancelled, with Ant returning to rehab.
“Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments,” a spokesperson for the star said on Monday. “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.”
ITV added in a statement: “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.”
The news followed TV favourite Ant’s arrest on suspicion of drink-driving following a collision in London on Sunday. He has since been charged and will appear in court in April.
Saturday Night Takeaway will return next Saturday night, March 31, after Dec announced he’d continue the series alone.
He said: “Whilst I never thought I’d be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we’ve decided that the remaining two shows of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead.
“We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honour that.
“Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series.”
Posting the message online, Dec signed off simply: “Dec x.”
In a statement, ITV said: “ITV can confirm that Saturday Night Takeaway, presented by Declan Donnelly, will return on March 31, and the series finale will be taking place at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida a week later.”
As well as hosting Saturday Night Takeaway with Dec, Ant was set to front Britain’s Got Talent from April and I’m A Celebrity in the autumn.
