SORRY PAL.. BUT I’M GOING SOLO
AS ANT CHARGED DEC SAYS:
DECLAN Donnelly will fly solo on Saturday Night Takeaway without lifelong pal Ant McPartlin who was yesterday charged with drink-driving.
Dec reluctantly agreed to front the last two episodes of the show to avoid disappointing 200 audience members who scooped a dream trip to the US.
DECLAN Donnelly will fly solo on Saturday Night Takeaway after sidekick Ant McPartlin was last night charged with drink driving.
He reluctantly agreed with ITV bosses to front the last two episodes of the prime time show without his shamed pal. It will be the first time in their careers that they have been split up. Devastated Dec said he had been put in a “position” that he “never thought” he would be in. Glum Ant finally emerged from his house yesterday for the first time since he was involved in a car crash on Sunday afternoon. He shuffled into a waiting car before heading to Kingston police station in west London. The 42-year-old was interviewed under caution before he was later charged. Ant has vowed to go back into rehab to battle his booze and prescription pills demons. He left his home last night with suitcases, sparking speculation he was heading straight into treatment.
Meanwhile, Dec, who visited Ant at his home yesterday, vowed to go it alone on Saturday Night Takeaway to avoid disappointing 200 viewers who have scooped a dream trip to Florida for the grand finale.
Dec said in a statement last night: “While I never thought I’d be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we’ve decided that the remaining two shows of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead.
“We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honour that.
“Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series.”
Ant was involved in a three-car pile-up in Richmond, south-west London, at the weekend as he returned from walking his pet dog Hurley with his mum Christine.
Sympathy for the much-loved star turned to concern in some quarters after it emerged a four-year-old girl was involved in the smash. She was taken to hospital as a precaution but did not stay in overnight.
Ant appeared dazed after climbing out of
Britain’s Got Talent, I’m A Celeb and Saturday Night Takeaway.
It is unclear how Ant’s latest actions will affect Dec’s future career.
An ITV spokesman said: “We can confirm that Saturday Night Takeaway, presented by Declan Donnelly, will return to ITV on March 31, and the series finale will be taking place at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida a week later.”