Telly bosses tell Ant: Come back when you’re ready

ITV bosses have confirmed that Ant McPartlin will be welcomed back to the network once he is ‘well and fit’, following his recent rehab stint.

Last year, the 42-year-old presenter confirmed his battle with drink and drug addiction before admitting himself to rehab, shortly before he announced the end of his marriage to Lisa Armstrong and was convicted of drink driving.

Despite his troubles, the network have vowed to stick by the star, with ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall telling ITV News that he is under no pressure to return until he is ready to hit screens, alongside his partner Declan Donnelly, pictured with Ant.

Revealing the happy news in an interview with the channel, Ms McCall said: ‘We wish Ant well. Clearly he won’t come back a moment too soon.

‘So I mean, he will come back when he’s well and when he is ready to come back, and ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he’s well and fit enough to come back.’

In further supportive news, Britain’s Got Talent head honcho and judge Simon Cowell also confirmed that Ant’s place as a presenter on the show remains intact, telling The Sun: ‘This is what happens. This is happening to people all over the world...

‘People, for whatever reason, they get into a rut and at times like this you stand by your mates. It’s always been that way.’

Since his conviction and departure from rehab, Ant has been spotted out and about looking happy and well and has confirmed his romance with former PA Anne-Marie Corbett.