ANT LOOKS A BROKEN MAN

Yes, his behaviour was irresponsible and dangerous. Yes, he could have killed a child. Yes, he did a terrible thing. However, I felt a pang of sorrow for Ant McPartlin this week. After being found guilty of driving while more than twice the legal alcohol limit, the TV star was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months. But that was not the worst thing.

‘I think it will have quite an impact on you to know you’re no longer a man of good character,’ the judge had told him, after sentencing. Agreed. To have risen so high in public esteem and then to fall from grace in such ugly circumstances must wound the soul. Outside court, McPartlin looked wretched — utterly broken, his face grey with stress, his gaze hollow.

But not all is lost. Ant has made some dreadful choices, and for that he has no one to blame but himself. Yet he has it within himself to summon the willpower and energy to conquer his addictions and begin afresh. It might not be the same life, but it will be a life worth living.