JUNGLE HOLLY I can’t wait to fill Ant’s shoes on I’m a Celeb
HOLLY Willoughby last night admitted she “couldn’t be more excited” as she confirmed she will step in for Ant McPartlin on this year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
This Morning’s Holly will join good friend Declan Donnelly in Australia to front this year’s series of the show.
Dec’s usual co-host, Ant, previously announced he is stepping back from television commitments and public appearances following a drink-driving conviction in April which saw him banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000.
Excited
“I couldn’t be more excited to have been asked to stand alongside Dec for the next jungle adventure,” she said.
“I love Ant and want to send him my best wishes and support for a continued recovery.
“These are big shoes, not to fill, but just to keep warm for a little bit.
“Honestly, I’m a huge fan of I’m A Celebrity and actually feel like I’ve won a competition to go and hang out on my favourite show.”
Then she added: “When is it a good time to tell Dec I’m scared of everything that moves?”
Dec, 42, said Holly, 37, was his first choice as stand-in for the ITV show.
“I’m thrilled she said yes,” he said yesterday. “It will be a different kind of series but we will try our best to ensure it is no less fun and eventful for our loyal viewers.”
Ant has been Dec’s co-presenter for all 17 series of the show, which started back in 2002.
The 42-year-old, whose return to presenting is expected to be for next year’s I’m A Celebrity, was snapped in Italy on Saturday tucking into an ice cream. The Geordie had stopped for an impressively large cone during a romantic late-night stroll in Florence with girlfriend and former personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett.
Ant and Anne-Marie, 42, are said to have grown close after his split with make-up artist wife Lisa Armstrong.
Anne-Marie helped the star during the fallout from the crash in March, during which he spent time in rehab.