Ant McPartlin looks ‘happier and healthier’ as he checks out of rehab

Ant and Dec

by Ruby Norris |
Updated on

Ant was spotted looking cheerful as he walked his dog following a month of rehab.

Ant McPartlin is said to be looking "healthier" and "brighter", following a month of intensive treatment in rehab after his arrest on suspicion of drink driving back in March 2018.

After being spotted out walking his dog Hurley with a friend, onlookers reported to The Sun that Ant appeared 'much more upbeat' in contrast to his appearance prior to his stay in rehab.

"It was great to see him looking so well, and much more upbeat," the onlooker revealed.

“In pictures taken after his accident Ant looked haunted."

During a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, Ant pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge after causing the pile-up in Richmond on 18 March, injuring a four-year-old girl who was travelling in one of the cars with her parents.

Ant McPartlin
©Mark Thomas/REX/Shutterstock

He was handed an £86,000 fine and was banned from driving for 20 months.

Following the crash, Ant returned to rehab - where he had spent several weeks seeking treatment in summer 2017.

“Prior to the crash he was slightly in denial about how serious his problems were, and felt he had things under control," a source told The Sun.

“But as soon as that happened, he realised he was still in a downward spiral. That was why he checked himself into rehab so quickly afterwards."

GALLERY: Ant and Dec's TV career timeline

Gallery

RADIO Ant and Dec career timeline SLIDER with cover pic

Ant and Dec's career timeline1 of 16
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Swipe through to see Ant and Dec's career timeline...

Ant & Dec in Byker Grove: 19892 of 16
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Ant & Dec in Byker Grove: 1989

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

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Ant & Dec's friendship blossomed: 1990

Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.He said, "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine, "We made a pact. We said to each other, 'Look, whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and you're never in this life on your own or against the world – you've always got a mate looking out for you."Dec said, "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground" as Ant added, "We love each other, definitely."

Ant and Dec's children's TV shows: 19944 of 16
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Ant and Dec's children's TV shows: 1994

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.

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Ant and Dec's pop career: 1994

It wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 'Let's Get Ready to Rhumble'. After the pair performed it on Saturday Night Takeaway, the song went to Number 1 in March 2013.Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.

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Ant and Dec on SMTV: 1998

This kicked off their kids' TV careers, and landed them their first BAFTA Awards.After various other presenting gigs, Ant & Dec started hosting ITV's Saturday morning shows SMTV and CD , alongside Cat Deeley, in 1998.

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Ant and Dec on Pop Idol: 2001

But, in 2001, they made the move from Saturday morning to prime time – for a little show called Pop Idol... They presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: 20028 of 16
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Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: 2002

This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which is on hiatus until 2020 after Ant McPartlin decided to take a step back from presenting.

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Ant and Dec on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!: 2002

In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show. In 2018, Ant decided not to host the show, and This Morning's Holly Willoughby stepped in to present with Dec.

Ant and Dec in Love Actually: 200310 of 16
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Ant and Dec in Love Actually: 2003

Ant and Dec had become such huge names in the UK in 2003, that director Richard Curtis invited them to have cameos in Love Actually, where they cautiously interview Bill Nighy's character, Billy Mack who hilariously calls Dec 'Ant or Dec'.

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Ant and Dec on Britain's Got Talent: 2006

Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million and have been hosting the show ever since.

Ant marries Lisa Armstrong: 200612 of 16
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Ant marries Lisa Armstrong: 2006

Ant married his long-term girlfriend Lisa Armstrong in 2006, with Dec acting as best man. Sadly, the marriage ended in 2018 after Ant's addiction struggles.

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CREDIT: Shutterstock

Dec marries Ali Astall: 2015

In 2015, Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall with Ant acting as best man - of course. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Isla in September 2018.

Ant and Dec awarded OBEs: 201714 of 16
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Ant and Dec awarded OBEs: 2017

Ant and Dec were awarded OBEs in the 2017 Queen's honours for services to broadcasting and entertainment at Buckingham Palace. They said, "We're humbled and honoured and ecstatic about the whole thing. We hope it can inspire young people from backgrounds like ours that things like this do happen to us sometimes. Put your head down and work hard and you can achieve what you want. You can end up in Buckingham Palace."

Ant's addiction struggles: 201715 of 16
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Ant's addiction struggles: 2017

In 2015, Ant was prescribed painkillers for botched surgery on his knee. Over the next two years, he became dependent on the drugs and on alcohol. In 2017, he entered rehab to deal with his addictions, and returned to work in the November. However, in March 2018, he was involved in a three-car road collision which involved a young family. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and pleaded guilty in court in April. He was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months, and stepped down from his TV duties in August 2018, returning in January 2019.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Ant and Dec's National Television Awards record: 2019

Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Best Presenter for 18 years running. They were also awarded a Guinness World Record for the most wins of the award in January 2019.

Ant also made the decision to cancel all foreseeable TV commitments, throwing his future on fan favourite I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! into question.

Speaking out on the issue recently, Ant's Britain's Got Talent co-star Stephen Mulhern hinted Ant would not be returning to the jungle.

Speaking to Best Magazine, Stephen said: "Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be back to his old self for next year.

"But he does need the rest and to be left alone, and given the time to recover."

Despite Stephen's words, no official statement has been made by either Ant or ITV regarding his future on I'm A Celeb.

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