After departing Byker Grove, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly swiftly rose to fame as a successful TV duo. However, in 2018, their reputation took a hit when Ant was arrested following a drink-driving incident in west London.
The collision occurred after Ant, aged 50, had undergone rehab for struggles with alcohol and painkiller addiction. Nearly eight years later, Declan expressed deep admiration for his friend’s transformation since the alcohol-fueled crash that resulted in a young passenger needing medical attention.
Ant, returning from walking his dogs in Richmond Park, collided with a BMW and a Mini Cooper. He received an £86,000 fine, a 20-month driving ban (reduced by five months), and was mandated to attend a drink-driving referral course.
Declan praised Ant’s personal growth, highlighting his proactive approach in overcoming challenges and becoming a better individual. Ant, following the breakdown of his 11-year marriage to Lisa Armstrong, publicly apologized for the incident outside Wimbledon Magistrates Court.
Subsequently, Ant took a break from hosting TV shows, entered rehab again, and was temporarily replaced by Holly Willoughby on I’m A Celebrity. Dec handled hosting duties for two episodes of their show, Saturday Night Takeaway.
Returning to TV in 2019 to host Britain’s Got Talent, Ant eventually moved on from his divorce with Lisa and married his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie, welcoming their first child two years later.
During Ant’s rehab stint, his actions impacted Dec, who contemplated a solo career due to Ant’s unacceptable behavior. Ant later expressed remorse, acknowledging the shame and guilt he felt for the drink-driving incident.
The duo faced backlash over a promotional video for their podcast, Hanging Out With Ant and Dec, which was criticized for insensitive imagery. They promptly issued an apology and removed the controversial content.
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