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Ant McPartlin will return to I’m A Celeb this year alongside Dec Donnelly

He missed last year's series after taking most of the year off

Ant McPartlin will return to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year alongside his telly partner Dec Donnelly.

The presenter, 43, didn’t host last year’s series with Dec as he took most of the year off to focus on his recovery following a drink-drive arrest and stint in rehab.

However, according to the show’s director Richard Cowles, Ant will be back in the Aussie jungle later this year.

Read more: Ant and Dec replaced by Phillip Schofield as hosts of the Prince’s Trust Awards

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby filled in for Ant on last year’s series.

Speaking at the Bafta Masterclass of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Richard told the Radio Times: “We love what Holly did, but we’re very much looking forward to Ant coming back and I think it’s going to be an amazing series.

“I think the job is for us to create a series and cast where everyone wants to come back and watch more, so I’m not worried [about ratings].

“I’m looking forward to seeing Ant and Dec back again.”

Holly Willoughby and Dec Donnelly on IAC
Holly filled in for Ant on last year’s series of I’m A Celebrity (Credit: ITV)

It comes after Holly confirmed she won’t be co-hosting I’m A Celebrity again this year.

Speaking at the Dancing On Ice launch in December, Holly called her stint on the show “a one-off, once in a lifetime adventure”.

She said: “It was a one-off, once in a lifetime adventure. I’ll be at home with everyone else having a glass of wine watching it.

“That was the thing I was most jealous of. Here I am standing here while you’re all drinking red wine at home in front of the fire and I’m in the rain in the jungle.”

Despite Ant’s time off last year, he and Dec still bagged the Best Presenter award at the National Television Awards earlier this year – making it their 18th win in a row for the category.

Ant and Dec are set to make their TV return next month for BGT (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Read more: Ant McPartlin makes big return to TV in first BGT trailer

Ant was left overwhelmed when he and Dec were awarded the gong as he said: “Oh wow. Wow. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, very much. This is a genuine shock, especially this year, I’m shaking here.

“I don’t feel I can accept this award this year, the one reason we got it is because of this guy, his hard work, dedication, wit, funniness and being the best mate there is, I love you, well done.”

Dec added: “Thank you, thank you to everyone who sent kind and thoughtful messages while I was flying the flag for the two of us, I’ve got him back now.”

Ant and Dec are set to make their TV return next month as hosts of the new series of Britain’s Got Talent.

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Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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