Dec will go to Baftas without Ant
FOR the past three decades, Ant and Dec have appeared inseparable.
But Declan Donnelly will attend the TV Baftas alone for the first time on Sunday while Ant McPartlin continues his recovery from alcohol addiction.
Photos of the event’s seating plan revealed Donnelly would instead sit between actress Thandie Newton and Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashley Banjo.
The double act’s hit ITV series Saturday Night Takeaway has been nominated in the best entertainment programme category, alongside Britain’s Got Talent, which is also hosted by the duo. McPartlin’s absence means Donnelly will have to collect awards for the pair by himself. McPartlin, 42, stepped away from the limelight earlier this year after he ploughed his mini into two cars while drink-driving in March. Careering on the wrong side of the road in South-West London, he sped around a corner and hit two vehicles that were carrying children.
McPartlin was fined a record £86,000 for the crash, which he caused while he was more than twice over the legal limit.
The former Byker Grove star was also banned from driving for 20 months. He said he was ‘ashamed and mortified’ by the incident.