Ant McPartlin to step down from TV commitments and return to rehab after drink-driving arrest

Bafta-winning TV star was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a collision involving three cars over the weekend

Ant McPartlin will return to treatment and step down from his current television commitments following his arrest for suspected drink-driving, a spokesperson has said.

The Bafta-winning star, 42, has decided to enter rehab again after consulting with TV partner Declan Donnelly, and the pair’s popular entertainment show Saturday Night Takeaway “will not go ahead” this weekend.

A spokesperson said in a statement: “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. As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.”

ITV added: “We will be reviewing options for the last two episodes of the series [31 Mach and 7 April] which would not feature Ant who is taking time off to seek treatment.”

McPartlin was involved in a collision with two other cars while driving in Richmond, west London, on Sunday 18 March. He was arrested at around 4pm after failing a breathalyser test.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the star was “taken to a south London police station for questioning and has since been released under investigation.”

Police also confirmed that a number of individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and a child passenger was taken to hospital as a precaution.

McPartlin entered rehab for two months in 2017 after struggling with an addiction to painkillers and alcohol following a knee operation in 2015.

The star returned to TV screens in November last year to host I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! with Donnelly.

He split with his wife of 11 years in January.