Fans were dismayed when they announced earlier this month that the next series of TV hit Saturday Night Takeaway would be their last.
But behind the scenes, sources say friends and family are secretly pleased that Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are calling time on presenting the show after 21 years topping the ratings.
The duo – who have been best friends and on-screen partners since starring together on children’s drama Byker Grove in 1989 – announced on their joint Instagram account that the 2024 series will be the end of the hit ITV show.
“The show takes up such a lot of our year. We just feel we need a little bit of a breather and that the show is going to take a little bit of a rest,” Dec explained to their five million followers.
And while this certainly won’t be the end of Ant and Dec on our screens, sources say Ant’s loved ones couldn’t be more pleased that he’s putting himself first and taking a break from TV – not least his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett.
Back in 2017, the presenter, 47, hit headlines when he checked into rehab after he admitted he had an addiction to prescription drugs – including the opioid OxyContin – and alcohol. He had a second stint in rehab in March 2018, after he shockingly caused a three-car pile up when he was drunk behind the wheel. Two months later, he pleaded guilty to the offence in court and was banned from driving for 20 months with a fine of £86,000, making history after receiving Britain’s highest-ever penalty for drink driving.
But through it all, Ant – who was still married to his first wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong, during his first rehab stint until they announced their separation in January 2018 – had Anne-Marie’s support.
The couple met when she began working as his personal assistant in 2017, and Anne-Marie split from her ex-husband and father of her two daughters that same year. The pair went public with their romance in March 2018, and married in August 2021. So it’s no wonder that Anne-Marie – who Ant has previously described as his “rock”, “lifesaver” and “a beautiful soul” – is pleased her husband is taking a step back from the limelight.
“Following Ant’s addiction battles, his pals worry that he’s put himself under a lot of pressure to appear as though his life is fully back on track when, in reality, these things take time,” an insider explains.
“Everyone is supporting him, and they’ve said he doesn’t have anything to prove. He’s really happy with Anne-Marie.
“But obviously you can’t just magically solve your problems. He’s been through so much and it seems as though he is no longer pushing himself to the point of exhaustion, which is really positive. Anne-Marie feel it’s a good thing that he’s walking away from SNT, and fully supports him trying to cut back on his workload.”
The source continues, “Being in recovery is something you live with, it doesn’t just go away. Ant’s still taking things one step at a time after everything he’s been through, and this is a clear sign of him putting his health and happiness first. Friends and family are really proud of him and support his decision. Anne-Marie is happy too as it means they get to spend a lot more time together. She wants the best for him and feels that taking time out together means she can make sure that he’s in a good place, both mentally and physically.”
At the time of his car crash, Ant and Dec were presenting a series of Saturday Night Takeaway together. Ant bowed out to focus on his recovery, but his supportive pal Dec, 47, kept up their commitments, and later in the year he also took on their usual gig at the helm of I’m A Celebrity! with their friend, Holly Willoughby.
The insider adds, “Ever since Ant told everyone that he and Dec would be resting the show, his circle have let out a collective sigh of relief. They’ve been worried about Ant ever since he checked into rehab. It’s not the first time that his health has been put before his career, after he pulled out of I’m A Celebrity!, but even when he returned to work there was still a concern from friends that he was taking on too much.
“He’s had support from Elton John, who knows how hard it is to beat an addiction – for many, it’s a life-long journey and you have to keep putting in the work to make sure you stay on the right path.”