TV presenter Declan Donnelly is said to be in shock after co-host and best friend, Ant McPartlin revealed to him that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Ant broke the news to his millions of fans yesterday after battling with his demons for some time now. The problem is reported to have started when the star had an operation which didn’t heal properly.
In a statement released by the I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Presenter, he said he wanted to be honest with the public and also that he felt guilty about letting people down. ‘The first step is to admit to yourself you need help.’ He continued ‘I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that, I am truly sorry. I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends for helping me through this really difficult time. ‘I’ve spoken out because I think it’s important that people ask for help if they’re going through a rough time and get the proper treatment to help their recovery.’
A source from ITV has said that the channel is completely behind his decision and have cleared his schedule so he can focus on his recovery. ‘The feeling amongst senior executives is that Ant has been very brave to admit this. He’s got our total backing and he knows he can take as much time as he needs.’