Ant McPartlin breaks his silence after pulling out of presenting roles until 2020

He wrote a message to fans on Twitter

Author: Laura ThorntonPublished 10th Aug 2018
Last updated 10th Aug 2018

Award-winning TV presenter Ant McPartlin has broken his silence after a statement was released on his behalf that confirmed he will NOT be hosting this year's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here as he continues to focus on his recovery. The statement read, "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."

Fans of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway found out that there will be no series in 2019, to allow Ant further time to focus on his health. The statement continued, "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."

Ant said in the 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.”

Now Ant has taken to Twitter to directly thank fans for their support. In a short but sweet message he wrote, 'Thank you for all the messages of support. Ax'.

Check out Ant and Dec's career timeline:

And & Dec: Early career

Ant & Dec as PJ and Duncan


In 1989 Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – PJ and Duncan was born.


Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.

Ant McPartlin breaks his silence after pulling out of presenting roles until 2020
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ITV boss Carolyn McCall confirmed that Ant would return to his job as soon as he is ready. She told ITV News, "Clearly he won't come back a moment too soon. He will come back when he's well and when he is ready to come back, and ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he's well and fit enough to come back."

Earlier this week, Ant smiled as he took a selfie with a fan.

After Ant's arrest in March, ITV initially released a statement confirming the presenter would be returning to rehab, leaving Dec on his own to present this year's live shows on Britain's Got Talent.

The full statement from ITV about Ant's future was as follows: "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 says: “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.”

"Dec adds: “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. I’m looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.”

"ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: "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. Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course."

Now watch all the Britain's Got Talent winners so far...