scarlett moffatt (Credit: Fameflynet)
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Scarlett Moffatt favourite to replace Ant McPartlin on I’m A Celebrity

Ant announced he won't be hosting the show this year

Scarlett Moffatt is the bookies’ favourite to replace Ant McPartlin on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Ant, who usually hosts the show in Australia with Dec Donnelly, announced this week that he won’t be returning to TV until next year as he focuses on his recovery.

Scarlett, 28, has a very strong connection to the show as she hosted the show’s sister show, Extra Camp, after being crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2016.

Read more: Ant McPartlin’s message to fans after confirming he’ll miss I’m A Celeb

And it seems the Geordie favourite is in pole position to land the prestigious role with bookmakers William Hill placing the star’s odds of joining Dec at 2/1.

According to The Sun, experts at Paddy Power put her odds on at 5/6.

Meanwhile, Coral have the brunette at 3/1 to bag the stint.

Other names in the frame are the duo’s Saturday Night Takeaway co-host Stephen Mulhern, former jungle winner Vicky Pattison, Extra Camp presenter Joe Swash and his girlfriend, former Queen of the Jungle Stacey Solomon.

William Hill have placed Vicky’s odds of replacing Ant at 5/2 while putting Joe’s at 4/1 and Stacey’s at 5/1.

Other names that have been thrown into the mix are Extra Camp host Joel Dommett, former contestant Peter Andre, Love Island host Caroline Flack, This Morning duo Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield and last year’s winner Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo.

It comes after Ant, 42, announced he’s taking a break from television to focus on his health and recovery following his rehab stint last summer.

In a statement shared to his and Dec’s website, the star 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.

Ant McPartlin, Celebrities leaving the Prince Trust Awards at the London Palladium - London
Ant said his recovery is going “very well” (Credit: Splash)

“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, who will be fronting the show without his best pal for the first time in November, admitted he’s “sad” that Ant won’t be joining him but he’s “fully supportive” of his decision.

After a stint in rehab to tackle drink issues and painkiller addiction last summer, Ant returned to TV to present I’m A Celebrity alongside Dec in November last year.

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He was also by Dec’s side on the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway, which began in March.

But, Dec had to present the final two episodes of the show himself, after Ant was involved in a drink-drive incident in London.

Would you like to see Scarlett take on Ant’s job? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)