ANT’S BIG TV RETURN
ITV boss on star’s comeback
ANT McPartlin will be welcomed back on ITV – but not until “he’s well and ready to come back”, says the channel’s new boss.
Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed last night the Geordie star would be allowed back on shows despite his drink-driving conviction following a car smash in March.
But Ant, who has been receiving rehab treatment since the crash, will not be forced back for a particular date to host I’m A Celeb, Britain’s Got Talent or Saturday Night Takeaway.
Asked if he would be returning to the channel, Dame Carolyn said: “As far as I know that is true.”
She earlier said: “We wish Ant well. Clearly, he won’t come back a moment too soon. So I mean he will come back when he’s well and when he is ready to come back.
“ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he’s well and fit enough to come back.”
It was thought that Ant, 42, may take a break of around a year to sort out his demons following a rollercoaster year involving two stints in rehab, a comeback, a marriage break-up and his run-in with the law.
But the latest revelation will leave fans salivating at the potential prospect of another Jungle reunion with pal Declan Donnelly in November.
Recent photos have shown Ant looking healthy as he embarks on a new relationship with personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett.
Just months earlier he was going through hell as he split from Lisa Armstrong, his wife of 11 years, and continued his struggles with addiction.
His crash in March while more than twice the legal alcohol limit resulted in him being banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000 – the UK’s largest ever drink-drive penalty.