Ant McPartlin has confirmed he will be back for 2019’s series of Britain’s Got Talent, despite postponing Saturday Night Takeaway until 2020.
The presenter, who was charged with drink-driving in March and given an £86,000 fine along with a driving ban, has said he will not return to ITV commitments in 2018, leaving Declan Donnelly to host I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here alone.
The pair also confirmed they would postpone the 2019 series of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, but Ant will be returning to shoot the spring series of Britain’s Got Talent, which returns in April 2019.
Insiders told The Sun they are hoping he will be back for BGT, as Saturday Night Takeaway production starts too early for him in his recovery.
Ant announced his absence from 2018 shows on Twitter, saying: "Ant McPartlin today announces he will continue to take a break from all television presenting roles until 2019. Ant will not present ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ in November this year.
"In addition Ant and Dec have made the joint decision not to present a new series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in Spring 2019.
"Production and filming for a Saturday Night Takeaway series in February would normally have already started, and continue throughout 2018 and early 2019.
"Neither Ant & Dec nor ITV wanted to compromise the quality of the show and therefore felt it was better to rest the series next year.
"They will instead bring the show back in 2020, bigger and better than ever."
Ant also thanked fans for their messages of support, along with the support he received from Dec and ITV.
He added in his own statement: "My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.
"I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year."
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Dec added in an accompanying statement: "Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision."
MirrorOnline has contacted a representative for Ant McPartlin for comment.
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