‘I WON’T DO I’M A CELEB WITHOUT HIM’

Dec is standing by his best mate

Aworld in which Declan Donnelly hosts a show without his sidekick Ant is a world we don’t want to imagine, and thankfully we don’t have to any more. There were rumours that Dec would be joined by another co-host in the Aussie outback if Ant wasn’t well enough to do I’m A Celeb this year, but the star has ruled it out.

“Dec would never do the show without Ant. They come as a pair, and it would be so weird for him to stand there with someone else next to him,” says heat’s insider. “If Ant’s not up for it when the show comes back on in November, Dec is happy to sit it out.”

While it will be odd for Ant and Dec not to be greeting us from the jungle, ITV will still push ahead with the series, with names in the presenting frame including Holly Willoughby, Leigh Francis (aka Keith Lemon) and Caroline Flack.

“The show is the jewel in ITV’S crown and a ratings winner, so there’s no way they’ll axe it,” our insider adds. “They’re hoping that Ant will be feeling better by then, but if not, the pressure will be on show bosses to find good replacements.”