Dec: We’re all missing my mate
EMOTIONAL TV STAR ADMITS HE’S MISSING HIS SIDEKICK
AN emotional Declan Donnelly opened up for the first time about best mate Ant McPartlin’s struggles, admitting: “I miss him”.
Dec presented the season finale of Saturday Night Takeaway in Florida alone after Ant checked into rehab.
After the cameras stopped rolling, Dec told the audience how filming had been “tinged with sadness” without his pal.
“Thanks for all the love and support, it’s been a series tinged with... well...” Dec told the crowd in footage obtained by the Sun.
Dec appeared lost for words before an audience member cried out: “We miss Ant.”
“Yes, we do, we do,” Dec replied. “Would you give a round of applause to Ant who’s back at home?,” he then asked the crowd who responded with loud cheers of support.
“Thank you so much. He’ll appreciate that a great, great deal,” Dec told them. While presenting the action-packed finale of Saturday Night Takeaway, Dec was unflappable as he sang, danced and joked his way through the live episode without his TV sidekick. The show’s famous sofa also paid a visit to the North East, visiting Woodhorn Colliery in Ashington. While Ant missed the last two episodes of the series as he receives treatment in rehab, some viewers thought Dec was making subtle messages to his friend during the final episode. The TV star opened the show with the Blues Brothers’ Everybody Needs Somebody, Dec then asked guest stars The Rembrandts to perform I’ll Be There For You – the theme tune to TV sitcom Friends. Ant was arrested following a car crash in London on March 18 and subsequently charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on April 16.