Viewers of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! have suggested Stephen Mulhern would be the perfect temporary replacement for Ant McPartlin.
Entertainment Daily! readers are among those who have urged bosses to let Stephen join Dec Donnelly in Australia and cover for Ant later this year.
I’m A Celebrity usually kicks off from Oz in November and runs until December.
Read more: Ant McPartlin’s message to fans after confirming he’ll miss I’m A Celebrity
One ED! fan, Janet, remarked: “Stephen Mulhern would be brilliant! Is anyone listening?!”
Another, Cathy, agreed, saying: “It has to be Stephen Mulhern!”
A third ED! reader, Eleanor, told us: “Why can’t it be Stephen Mulhern? He works well with Ant and Dec and he is such a funny man. He deserves the chance to be more on live TV and I think the majority of people would go with him.”
Other I’m A Celebrity viewers took to social media to name Stephen as their ideal replacement while Ant is away.
@imacelebrity
I hope Stephen Mulhern replaces Ant while hes taking time out this year…i think he would be the Best choice…x— libby black (@libby_steven) August 12, 2018
there is only one person who should be replacing ant on i'm a celeb this year, and that's stephen mulhern.
— rosie (@rosiiedavies) August 10, 2018
if anyone is going to 'replace' ant on im a celeb its gonna be stephen mulhern bc its the obvious choice
— Peeks (@louisepyke1) August 10, 2018
I think @StephenMulhern would be good with Dec on @imacelebrity
— Kirsty Robe (@CharmedKIrsty) August 13, 2018
@antanddec sorry to hear that Ant isn’t coming back this year, but I would love to see Stephen Mulhern as dec’s co presenter for I’m a celeb
— claire jeans (@cajyeo) August 10, 2018
Stephen, 41, works alongside Ant & Dec on Britain’s Got Talent, hosting the spinoff show, More Talent, and appears on Saturday Night Takeaway.
Ant, 42, will not join his telly partner Dec, also 42, in Australia for the next series of I’m A Celebrity as he continues to step away from the limelight and focus on his treatment and well-being.
The star has not appeared on live TV since March, when he was involved in a drink-drive incident in London.
Since the announcement that he won’t appear on I’m A Celebrity this year was made, a string of high-profile presenters have been linked to his vacant spot.
Among them are Holly Willoughby, Scarlett Moffatt and Caroline Flack.
ITV has yet to confirm if Ant will even be replaced this series, or whether Dec will front I’m A Celebrity solo, like he did with the last episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway and the BGT live shows.
A statement released on behalf of Ant & Dec last week 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.
“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 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. 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 said: “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.”
After a voluntarily stint in rehab to tackle drink issues and painkiller addiction last summer, Ant returned to TV to present I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, alongside Dec in November last year.
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook
He was also by his co-presenter’s side as a new series of Saturday Night Takeaway began in March, this year, but Dec completed the series solo, after Ant was involved in a drink-drive crash near in south-west London.
Ant appeared in the pre-recorded auditions episodes of BGT, filmed before his crash, but Dec hosted the live shows solo in May for the first time.
Do you think Stephen Mulhern would be a good cover for Ant? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!