Ant McPartlin releases statement confirming break from television

A statement has been released on the duo's behalf

Ant McPartlin won't be presenting the upcoming series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here it has been confirmed. He will continue to take a break from all television and presenting roles after being involved in a drink driving accident and entering rehab earlier in the year. It will be the first time in 15 years the popular presenter hasn't been involved in the series. His close friend and TV partner Declan Donnelly is now set to present the reality show alone which is due to air in November this year. He received huge praise from audiences after appearing without McPartlin for the final two episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway. In addition, the duo has also stated that they've made the joint decision that neither of them will be presenting the next series of Saturday Night Takeaway, due in 2019. A statement reads:

"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."

Kevin Lygo, ITV Director of Television, has said in response to the news:

"ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019".

A further announcement concerning I'm a Celebrity is expected to be made by the channel in due course.