ANT THEN THERE’S JUST ONE
Star hosts live show without pal for first time in 20 years
Lonely Declan Donnelly kicked off last night’s Saturday Night Takeaway by cracking a joke about having “twice the amount of work to do”.
He presented the episode without sidekick Ant McPartlin, who is back in rehab after being charged with drinkdriving following a car crash in London last month.
It was the first time Dec, 42, has appeared on live telly without best pal Ant for 20 years.
The audience cheered loudly as Dec made his way on to the stage at the start of the ITV show. His voice cracked with emotion as he said: “Thanks for that very, very warm welcome. I really appreciate it.
“There’s a lot to cram in and I’ve got twice the amount of work to do, so let’s crack on.”
Dec then switched attention to guest announcer Stephen Merchant.
Comedian Merchant congratulated Dec on the news that he’s to be a dad for the first time, telling him: “I can’t wait to come round to your house and hear the pitter patter of tiny feet – it’ll be you coming to the door.”
Merchant then asked the host if he could present the show beside him because “there’s a little bit of space on the stage there”.
Despite the jokes, Dec failed to directly address Ant ’ s absence from the show.
Ant , 42, is being treated in rehab after a previous stint for a painkiller addiction. He was charged with drinkdriving after his £ 26,000 Mini collided with two other vehicles. The Geordie star is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court for a hearing on Wednesday. Friends say Ant has been hit “hard” by his impending £60million divorce from his wife of 11 years Lisa Armstrong. Earlier yesterday, the Saturday Night Takeaway team posted a photograph of the show’s script on Twitter. Bosses were said to have been in a panic over how Dec would start the show without his co-host. The image was captioned: “Just a little photo to prove that we don’t just wing it, there is actually a script.” Dec will be on his own again when he presents the season’s finale at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida next week. Show regulars Stephen Mulhern and Scarlett Moffat took over Ant’s role last night handing out tickets to Florida to people in the studio audience.