STAR IN FIRST
The verdict
DECLAN Donnelly last night made his first TV appearance without sidekick Ant McPartlin – and joked his workload had doubled.
Millions watched as Dec high-fived members of the audience as he ran down the studio steps.
He looked moved by huge cheers and a standing ovation at London’s ITV studios – and drew laughter when he said: “We’ve got lots to cram in and I’ve got twice the amount of work to do.”
The 42-year-old was hosting Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway for the first time since his pal went into rehab after his drink-drive arrest.
Guest announcer Stephen Merchant – in a sound booth at the top of the studio – cheekily offered to be Dec’s sidekick for the night, saying “there is a little bit of space on the stage down there”. At 6ft 7ins, he even offered to sit on a stool alongside 5ft 6ins Dec.
They traded banter, then Merchant – co-writer of The Office – congratulated Dec on impending fatherhood and teased that he was looking forward to popping round and “hearing the pitter patter of tiny feet… that’s you coming to the door!”
The audience lapped it up and any awkwardness about Ant’s absence was swept away in an instant.
BATTLE
Ant was in pre-recorded segments and Dec closed the show by saying: “Thanks for all your support.”
The show came as Ricky Wilson warned his friend Ant could be off TV for “a long time” as he battles to rebuild his life. And the rocker – who credits the TV duo with launching his band the Kaiser Chiefs – said Dec has had a “hell of a week”.
He also hinted Ant had been pushed back into work too soon following a stint in rehab for his painkiller addiction last summer. Now sources say Ant is unlikely to work again this year risking the multi-million pound joint career he had with Dec.
In an exclusive interview, Ricky said: “Dec’s having a hell of a week and everyone is rallying around because we care about them both so much.
“Ant is going through some tough times, he will bounce back, but whether that is later rather than sooner... I think he needs a long time.
“I just want to see him back on Looking anxious and breathing heavily, Dec was clearly nervous.
With an empty space at his side where best mate Ant had been a constant presence for almost 30 years, that was no surprise.
In their 2010 autobiography the pair vowed never to be parted, with Ant revealing: “We made an agreement – whatever happened, neither one of us would ever be on our own out there.”
But circumstances have dictated otherwise. A rapturous round of applause welcomed Dec on to the stage – and he was obviously touched by the warm greeting.
Then it was time to get on with the show. Interacting with the audience, he really came into his own. His warmth shone through and his nerves seem to melt away.
Dec, you may be a lot shorter than wannabe sub Stephen Merchant, but stand tall – you were great.
We’ve lots to cram in and I’ve twice the work to do! DEC DONNELLY HOW HE BROKE ICE LAST NIGHT
the screens but I’m not going to be greedy and want him back soon because he needs to come back when he is ready not when all the people around him are ready.
“Although on the outside even being in Ant and Dec looks like the best job in the world, people can struggle.
“It highlights what a lot of people have been talking about over the last couple of years, I just hope that at the bottom of everything eventually there will be some positivity and something good can come out of it for everybody.”
Ant presented I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here after several months in rehab – with many insisting he had returned to work too soon.
But he pulled out of all TV commitments after he was involved in a head-on collision with two cars in South West London a fortnight ago and was later charged for drink driving. Ant is currently in rehab but will appear in court on Wednesday.
He revealed in January that his 11-year marriage to Lisa Armstrong, 41, was over. They had been together for 23 years.