Television presenter Ant McPartlin has declared he is now the 'happiest he has ever been', following a profound personal transformation after his 'tough' drink-driving ordeal in 2018.
A Career in the Balance After Drink-Drive Crash
The ITV star's future appeared to hang in the balance when he was arrested for drink-driving near his London home. The incident saw his car collide with two other vehicles, including a BMW driven by Dr Audrey Ng, while he was twice the legal alcohol limit. A four-year-old passenger in one of the cars required hospital treatment.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with one recalling the Mini coming "round the corner like a rocket." Another detailed how the crash unfolded on Lower Richmond Road, noting the deployment of airbags and the distress of those involved. McPartlin was later handed a record £86,000 fine, believed to be the highest ever issued by a British court for the offence.
This crisis came during an already tumultuous period for the presenter, who had previously sought treatment for painkiller addiction and confirmed his separation from his then-wife, Lisa Armstrong. ITV subsequently cancelled Saturday Night Takeaway to allow him to enter residential rehabilitation.
Finding Purpose and Happiness in Sobriety
Now 50 and sober, McPartlin reflected on his journey in a new interview with his presenting partner, Declan Donnelly. "Turning 50 for me was great because my early forties was a really tough time," he explained. "These last few years, it's the happiest I've been in a long, long time."
He credits his newfound clarity and purpose to his sobriety. "What changes as you get older, especially being sober as well, for me, is the purpose," McPartlin stated. Donnelly praised his friend's resilience, saying, "Ant took responsibility and real action. He worked on himself so much to get back not just to being himself but actually being a much better person than he was before."
The father-of-one, who welcomed his first child with wife Anne-Marie in 2024, has clearly rebuilt both his personal and professional life, recently securing a £30 million deal with ITV to remain one of the broadcaster's top stars until at least 2028.
Podcast Promotion Backlash and Apology
This period of reflection comes amid controversy over a promotional video for the duo's new podcast, Hanging Out With Ant and Dec. The clip, shared with their 5.9 million followers on X, opened with an image of feet and trouser legs dangling above the ground, which many found reminiscent of suicide imagery.
The post was swiftly condemned as 'triggering and insensitive' by followers and mental health advocates. Former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel called the imagery "sickening and deeply disappointing," stating it promoted "entirely foreseeable harm."
Facing significant backlash, the duo removed the video within hours. Their representatives issued an apology: "We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video and we are sorry if it has upset anyone. We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video." Neither Ant nor Dec has commented publicly beyond this statement.
This misstep stands in contrast to their previous advocacy for mental health, notably as part of ITV's Britain Get Talking campaign in 2021.
