Britain’s Got Talent 2019: Is Ant back for good? Why isn’t Holly Willoughby on?

Britain’s Got Talent starts tonight (Saturday, April 6) on ITV at 7:15pm as the auditions kick off and a new batch of hopefuls take their chances in front of the judging panel. Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and David Walliams will be returning once again to offer up their discerning critique to auditionees. Ant McPartlin is also returning this year after a series away from the reality TV juggernaut. In 2018, Ant missed the Britain’s Got Talent live shows, leading Dec to host solo. Here’s everything you need to know about Ant’s return to BGT.

Is Ant back for good?

Yes, is the short answer – Anthony McPartlin has returned to his Britain’s Got Talent presenting duties in earnest and will be back with Dec.

The pair will again be offering up cheeky commentary and speaking to BGT contestants hoping to get four yeses from the judges.

Ant and Dec have been a firm fixture on Britain’s Got Talent since it first began in 2007 and have hosted the ITV programme since the start.

Britain’s Got Talent is now into its 13th series and shows no signs of slowing down, repeatedly topping the ratings with 11 million tuning in for last year’s final.

FULL LIST OF BGT WINNERS

Last year, Ant had to postpone his presenting duties on the Britain’s Got Talent live shows after he was charged with a drink-driving offence following a three-vehicle collision in London in March 2018.

Ant pleaded guilty to the offence at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in April 2018 and was banned for driving for 20 months and fined £86,000. According to The Guardian, the fine was the highest-ever penalty for drink driving.

Following his arrest, a spokesperson for McPartlin issued a statement which said: “Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments.

“He has spoken with Dec and ITV today and asked for time off for the foreseeable future.”

WHY WASN’T ANT ON BGT LAST YEAR?

Although Ant wasn’t part of the live shows on Britain’s Got Talent, he still appeared in the audition episodes of Britain’s Got Talent 2018 which were filmed in January earlier that year.

Ant’s absence meant that Dec had to present the live shows section of Britain’s Got Talent on his own for the first time ever. The host garnered praise from the audience for his efforts.

ITV issued a statement at the time, which read: “Dec will be hosting the live shows which for the first time ever are coming from the Hammersmith Apollo while Ant steps down from his TV commitments for now.|

“We send Ant all our love. And we know that Dec will do a brilliant job.”

The incident also meant that Ant did not present the final two live shows of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, with Dec also presenting the show by himself for the first time.

Saturday Night Takeaway has now been postponed until 2020 following a decision from the pair.

In August 2018, Ant confirmed that he would be taking a break from his presenting duties until 2019.

In a statement, he said: “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.”

Despite his absence from the small screen in 2018, Ant and Dec still won The Most Popular TV Presenter at the 2019 National Television Awards.

The accolade, which is voted for by the public, marked an unbroken 18-year winning streak for the national treasures.

Ant and Dec were in the middle of filming the audition stages for Britain’s Got Talent 2019 when the award was announced and they appeared via video link to accept the gong.

In the clip, Ant and Dec were visibly emotional. Ant told viewers: “Thank you, this is a genuine shock especially this year. I’m shaking here.

“We want to say thank you to everybody. I mean, I really don’t feel like I can accept this award this year.

“The one reason we won the award this year is because of this guy, his hard work, dedication, wit, funniness and being the best mate out there. I love you man. Well done.”

Dec added: “Thank you so much, thank you to everybody who sent kind and thoughtful messages to us over the past year.

“They kept me going when I’ve been flying the flag for the two of us. But I’ve got him back now and now we are back together.”

WHO ARE THE BGT JUDGES?

Why isn’t Holly Willoughby on BGT?

This Morning and Celebrity Juice star Holly Willoughby has never presented Britain’s Got Talent, however, she temporarily replaced Ant on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! 2018.

Holly was praised for her performance as she fronted the show Down Under alongside Dec, perhaps leading some to wonder if she would be reuniting with him on Britain’s Got Talent.

The decision for Ant not to return to presenting duties until 2019 meant that he could not present I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in November and December 2018.

Until 2018, Ant and Dec had hosted the show for the past 18 years.

Instead, Holly – who is a close friend to Ant and Dec – joined the latter in Australia to present the reality series.

At the time, Holly said in a statement: “I couldn’t be more excited to have been asked to stand alongside Dec for the next jungle adventure. I love Ant and want to send him my best wishes and support for a continued recovery.

“These are big shoes, not to fill, but just to keep warm for a little bit…Honestly, I’m a huge fan of I’m a Celebrity and actually feel like I’ve won a competition to go and hang out on my favourite show! When is it a good time to tell Dec I’m scared of everything that moves?!”

On the night of the first live show of I’m A Celebrity, Ant tweeted: “All the very best of luck to the little fella and @hollywills for the show tonight. Lots of love from the big fella!! A #ImACeleb Xxxxxx.”

Ant has since returned to his presenting duties on Britain’s Got Talent and has completed filming the audition stages.

Holly Willoughby can be seen regularly on This Morning with co-host Phillip Schofield.

Earlier this year she hosted Dancing on Ice with Phillip, with James Jordan being crowned the winner of the skating show.

Britain’s Got Talent starts tonight on ITV at 7:15pm

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