'And you thought I had problems!' Ant McPartlin makes ANOTHER joke about his tough year... as he continues triumphant TV return on I'm A Celeb
He has been lauded for his triumphant return to TV following a successful stint in rehab to battle drink and drug addiction.
And as Ant McPartlin continues his hosting duties on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here he was seen to yet again make a hilarious joke about his woes as he told co-host Dec Donnelly: 'You thought I had problems!'
The 42-year-old host's one-liner comes after it was revealed the duo boast a secret third member, Andy Milligan, who works tirelessly behind the scenes every day to create their jokes for I'm A Celebrity.
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Having a giggle: Ant McPartlin continues his hosting duties on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here he was seen to yet again make a hilarious joke about his woes as he told co-host Dec Donnelly: 'You thought I had problems!'
The hilarious moment came when Dec appeared to struggle to pronounce the word 'admirable' after which his quick-witted co-star made his one-liner.
In the first episode of I'm A Celebrity, Dec joked about the rumours of Ant being replaced as he said: 'It's me and the gorgeous Holly Willoughby.' He then added in mock horror: 'Wait, no! Guys that's the wrong script! You've put the wrong script in!'
Turning to Ant, who was stood in mock outrage, Dec continued the joke by stating, in reference to his pal's rehab stint: 'No one was sure if you would make it or not!'
Confirming to fans he was better than ever however, the famous Geordie assured: 'Unbelievable. I was always going to make it, come on.'
Cracking up: The 42-year-old host's one-liner comes after it was revealed the duo boast a secret third member, Andy Milligan, who works tirelessly behind the scenes every day to create their jokes for I'm A Celebrity
Third member: Ant and Dec must give some credit for their I'm A Celebrity jokes to their secret third member, Andy Milligan
He then added excitedly: 'I'm back my friend!' before the pair sweetly hugged, to the applause of the production crew.
It now transpires the hilarious skit was penned by Andy, who has worked with the hosts for 12 years and is thought to have masterminded the witty asides that addressed Ant's rehab stint for painkiller addiction.
The handling was met with praise from viewers - with Andy rumoured to be behind the operation, according to the Mirror.
Media-shy: The handling was met with praise from viewers - with Andy rumoured to be behind the operation, according to the Mirror
Who knew? Andy, who co-wrote the boys' best-selling autobiography, sleeps during the day and starts work around midnight every night
'It might be Ant and Dec on screen, but off it they regularly work as a trio and it is Ant and Dec and Andy,' a source told the publication.
'The boys have him involved in all of their big shows – Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity – and haven't made a project without him in more than a decade.
'This year there was lots of scrutiny around Ant, but once again Andy has helped the boys look brilliant on screen.'
MailOnline has contacted reps for I'm A Celebrity and Ant and Dec for comment.
Cheeky: In the first episode of I'm A Celebrity, Dec joked about the rumours of Ant being replaced as he said: 'It's me and the gorgeous Holly Willoughby'
These guys: He then added in mock horror: 'Wait, no! Guys that's the wrong script! You've put the wrong script in!'
Smoothly handled: Turning to Ant, who was stood in mock outrage, Dec continued the joke by stating, in reference to his pal's rehab stint: 'No one was sure if you would make it or not!'
Andy, who co-wrote the boys' best-selling autobiography, sleeps during the day and starts work around midnight every night.
He watches the I'm A Celebrity footage and create a series of jokes for more than three hours, sources claimed.
Ant and Dec reportedly arrive on set at 3.30am and record voiceovers and then go over sketch ideas during a meeting with Andy and the other writers.
The pair, both 42, are thought to watch videos from the show at 4.30am, perfect their jokes in a meeting at 5.30am and are ready to present at 7am.
The man of the hour: The handling was met with praise from viewers - with Andy rumoured to be behind the operation, according to the Mirror
Interesting: 'It might be Ant and Dec on screen, but off it they regularly work as a trio and it is Ant and Dec and Andy,' a source told the publication
Andy, a fellow Newcastle native, is rarely seen in the spotlight. His humble Twitter profile reads: 'Written all things Ant & Dec for a canny while.'
Ant and Dec have been lauded for being back to their brilliant best this season - with critics praising the first I'm A Celebrity episode.
After the opening Holly Willoughby gag, the pair joked about Ant's summer once again, with Dec probing his co-host: 'Where were you all summer anyway? What were you doing?'
Breaking out into giggles and awkwardly sipping into his tea, Ant simply laughed in response: 'I was just dead busy!'
Tough times: Ant has suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues
Ant has suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues.
Ant revealed his plans to check in to rehab for alcohol and drug addiction, when he gave a candid interview to The Sun admitting he had 'let people down', before thanking his wife Lisa Armstrong and co-star Declan for the support they had provided.
While he hasn't been joined by wife Lisa out in Oz, due to her working commitments on Strictly Come Dancing as a make-up artist, she made sure to hit back at the speculation, breaking her silence on the duo's rumoured 'marriage woes'.
Lisa had hit back at the long-running reports that the duo have separated by taking to Twitter, as she penned on the microblogging site: 'I'm not estranged, thank you'.
He's come through it: He admitted he had 'let people down', before thanking his wife Lisa Armstrong (pictured) and co-star Declan for the support they had provided
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