Dermot O'Leary says his 'good friend' Ant McPartlin needs to be 'happy and in a good place' before making his TV return next week
Dermot O'Leary has revealed that he hopes his 'dear friend' Ant McPartlin is 'happy and in a good place' before he makes his highly-anticipated return to TV.
The I'm A Celebrity host, 43, has been absent from presenting duties since his drink-driving car crash in March 2018, which saw Declan Donnelly begin to work alone.
Following the accident, Ant returned to rehab for a second time in a bid to battle his drink and drug addictions, causing him to take break from his job as an I'm A Celeb presenter alongside Dec.
He's back! Dermot O'Leary has revealed that he hopes his 'dear friend' Ant McPartlin is 'happy and in a good place' before he makes his highly-anticipated return to TV
He announced that he would be taking a break from television in order to focus on his recovery, which meant Dec had to present the last two episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway solo, and was joined by Holly Willoughby as co-host on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
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Ant is slated to return to filming next week, where he and Dec will reprise their roles as presenters for Britian's Got Talent, his first job since the incident last year.
Dermot, 45, told the Sunday Mirror: 'Ant's a dear friend. I think he's scheduled to come back to TV this year. As long as he's happy. He just needs to be in a good place.'
Touching: Dermot, 45, told the Sunday Mirror : 'Ant's a dear friend. I think he's scheduled to come back to TV this year. As long as he's happy. He just needs to be in a good place'
The X Factor presenter said that Ant and Dec are such an iconic duo he made a huge gaffe during I'm A Celeb filming, he said: 'Ant and Dec are such a staple that when I was doing a trail for I'm A Celeb I said their names instead of Holly.'
Dermot will be hosting the National Television Awards later this month where Ant and Dec are in line for their 18th in a row TV Presenter title, but they face stiff competition from Holly Willoughby.
Long-time reigning champions Ant and Dec have earned another nomination, despite a troubled 2018 for the duo which saw Ant McPartlin miss the live Britain's Got Talent shows and I'm A Celebrity.
Rivals: Dermot will be hosting the National Television Awards later this month where Ant and Dec are in line for their 18th in a row TV Presenter title, but they face stiff competition from Holly Willoughby
However the nomination didn't sit well with Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan, who quipped during Wednesdays show: 'He's been on his backside all year!
'No work, walk the dog, get up, and he still gets nominated for the NTA! I mean I love Ant but really?
'Really? You're going to give the award to someone who's not done any work this year! I come in every day. I mean Dec should be getting one this year - solo.'
Missed out: Long-time reigning champions Ant and Dec have earned another nomination, despite a troubled 2018 for the duo which saw Ant McPartlin miss the live Britain's Got Talent shows and I'm A Celebrity
