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EXCLUSIVE: ANT AND LOVE VISIT DEC AS HE CELEBRATES 43RD BIRTHDAY
ANT McPartlin could not wait to rush round and wish his best mate Declan Donnelly a happy 43rd birthday yesterday.
Dec welcomed his TV sidekick at his West London home as he celebrated his first birthday since becoming a dad at the start of the month.
Newly clean-shaven Ant looked a picture of health as he and girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett, his former assistant, arrived bearing gifts.
Prior to the arrival of his friend, Dec had nipped out to the shop for what looked like snacks – including a couple of baguettes.
Ant, who does not turn 43 until November, is off screen for a year, after attending rehab for alcohol and prescription drug addictions. Last week a friend revealed he was celebrating six months without touching alcohol, since his car accident in March. Yesterday it was plain to see how the lifestyle change had made a difference.
He looked fresh-faced and lean as he and Anne-Marie went into the house with flowers. Dog Hurley was held outside by his driver.
Taking to their shared Twitter account, he posted a snap of Dec standing behind a flamenco dress.
In the caption he joked about his friend’s stature: “Happy Birthday from the big one to the little one!”
The tweet marks one of the
For my recovery to continue, I’ve decided to take rest of year off
few social media posts from him in recent weeks, following his drink-driving conviction in April. He was handed a 20-month driving ban over the accident, which involved a family with a four-yearold girl. No one was injured. At Wimbledon magistrates court he admitted to having “alcohol and emotional issues” as he pleaded guilty to being twice the drinkdrive limit. He said he was “truly sorry” and checked himself into rehab. This summer, Ant announced he would
ANT MCPARTLIN ON WHY HE’S TAKEN CAREER BREAK
not be doing I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, with his role in Australia being filled by Holly Willoughby.
He said: “My recovery is going very well. For that to continue, I’ve made the decision to take the rest of the year off.”
Next year’s series of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway has been shelved as a result.
Ant has split from wife of 11 years Lisa Armstrong. In June, it emerged he was in a relationship with mum-of-two Anne-Marie, 42.
Dec and wife Ali Astall recently welcomed daughter Isla Elizabeth Anne to the world. And as at most new parents’ homes, bags of nappies and pram packaging were left out for binmen.