Ant McPartlin’s return has been confirmed by ITV boss

ITV's Chief Executive has stated that the presenter will be returning alongside Declan Donnelly when he is ready

Following his involvement in a drink-drive crash in March earlier this year, Ant McPartlin stepped aside from his presenting duties on shows Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway. The presenter was charged for drink driving and handed a £86,000 fine, as well as a 20-month driving ban. He has since spent a period in rehab and is now expected to return to television screens, according to ITV's Chief Executive Carolyn McCall. McCall told ITV News:

"He will come back when he's well and when he is ready to come back, and ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he's well and fit enough to come back. "So, we wish Ant well. Clearly he won't come back a moment too soon."

The new series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here begins in November, but as it stands it is unclear whether Ant will be hosting the show as he has done since 2002. When pressed by a journalist on whether McPartlin would be returning to ITV specifically, McCall said: "As far as I know, that is true." Meanwhile, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell told The Sun: "People, for whatever reason, they get into a rut and at times like this, you stand by your mates. It's always been that way." Dec went solo for the first time in their careers during the final episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway and his performances were well-received by viewers. Even so, there are many who will be eager to see the Geordie duo reunited on-screen once again.