ANT BACK IN REHAB
Saturday Night Takeaway axed.. as crash girl’s family say ‘he could have killed us’
ANT McPartlin has checked back into rehab after his drink-drive arrest.
It was claimed the TV star, 42, was “driving like a maniac” when he crashed his Mini into a car carrying four-year-old girl Amaira Vanoo.
Her dad Faheem said the smash in South-West London “could have wiped out” his family. This week’s Saturday Night Takeaway is cancelled.
A DAD involved in the car crash with Ant McPartlin has reportedly said the television presenter had been “driving like a maniac” and “could have wiped out my family”.
The claims come as McPartlin quit TV “for the foreseeable future” after deciding to check himself back into rehab.
This weekend’s episode of his ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway has been axed in the wake of his drink-drive arrest.
Faheem Vanoo, 41, was driving a green Mini carrying wife Shilpa Dandekar and the couple’s four-year-old girl Amaira when the car was involved in the smash with a Mini driven by McPartlin.
Faheem claimed he was forced to take evasive action to avoid a head-on crash.
He reportedly said: “I’m convinced that split-second turn of the wheel saved us all from being crippled or killed. I reckon he was doing 50 or 60mph.
“I don’t care whether he’s a millionaire [and] a famous TV star – he could have put my daughter in a wheelchair.”
His wife Shilpa reportedly said she had to be restrained as she attempted to confront McPartlin, 42. She said: “I was so angry with him I lost my cool and tried to run up to him and smash his face – I had to be held back.”
The crash in South West London led to McPartlin’s arrest.
Shilpa told the Mirror last night: “We’ve never met a TV presenter before and we hope that it’s the last time.”
She added: “I suffered a sprained shoulder and bruises.
“My daughter was checked out by medics and she was fine.
“It’s been quite the shock and a nightmare but we are getting on with things. We are all OK now.” Shilpa hinted that McPartlin had been in touch.
Asked if they had been contacted by the TV star, Shilpa replied: “My husband is dealing with that side of things – I can’t talk about it.”
A close member of McPartlin’s family has told of the star’s distress that a child was involved in the smash.
The relative on Tyneside told the Mirror: “He is going through a bad time.
“Ant and [his mum] Christine have bruises. They are sore and in shock. Thankfully everyone was fine and it was bruising rather than any serious injuries. Ant was distraught any children were involved.” Another family member admitted those close to the Geordie star are “going through a lot”. While this week’s Saturday Night Takeaway has been canned, the following two episodes – the last ones in the series – may go ahead. But they would not feature McPartlin. His co-star, best pal Declan Donnelly, “could easily
present solo or with special guests”, a TV source said last night.
McPartlin was released from custody at 2am yesterday, and headed straight back to his West London home to be reunited with mum Christine, 61.
She was the passenger in McPartlin’s black Mini when it crashed into two cars in Mortlake at 4pm on Sunday.
He failed a breathalyser test at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. He got home at 2.40am.
The TV host and his team were locked in crisis talks for 90 minutes yesterday at the £2million home in Chiswick. He has also talked to pal Dec, 42. McPartlin’s publicist said in a statement: “Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments.
“He has spoken with Dec and ITV today, and asked for time off for the foreseeable future.
“As such, Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.”
An ITV spokesman said: “ITV has taken a joint decision with Ant and Dec’s team not to broadcast Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.
“We will be reviewing options for the last two episodes of the series which would not feature Ant... We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.”
Prime-time show Saturday Night Takeaway pulls in more than eight million viewers.
The arrest is the latest setback for McPartlin who is worth £60million.
He entered rehab for the first time last year after struggling with an addiction to painkillers following a knee operation in 2015. And in January, he confirmed he and wife Lisa Armstrong were separating after 11 years of marriage. Sources say McPartlin’s mum Christine has been with her son in London “off and on” for several weeks after the split.
Lisa, 41, yesterday said she was “not interested” in talking about his decision to step down from his TV work.
Two dogs – one called Hurley – were in the back of McPartlin’s car at the time of the crash. They have been checked by a vet and are fine, a source said.
The Met police said McPartlin was questioned at a South London police station and inquiries are ongoing.
McPartlin became hooked on painkiller Tramadol after “botched” surgery.
He battled depression and admitted to drinking heavily. But he said he was not an alcoholic, adding: “I was just drinking too much to numb the pain.”
He returned to TV last November to co-host I’m a Celebrity.
FOR decades TV audiences have applauded Ant McPartlin as one half of a cheeky Geordie duo with Declan Donnelly.
Ant must now realise the same viewers are not entertained by a star hitting another car with a child inside after allegedly boozing.
It’ll be the end of the road for his partnership with Dec if he doesn’t behave responsibly.