Ant McPartlin has updated fans on how his recovery from drink issues and painkiller addiction is coming along.
In a statement posted on Twitter, he assured followers it was going well, but that he had decided to take the rest of the year off.
The full announcement went on to reveal that there would be no Saturday Night Takeaway next year.
It says: “Ant McPartlin today announces he will continue to take a break from all television presenting roles until 2019.
“Ant will not present I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in November this year.
“In addition Ant and Dec have made the joint decision not to present a new series of ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ in Spring 2019.
“Production and filming for a Saturday Night Takeaway series in February would normally have already started, and continue throughout 2018 and early 2019.
“Neither Ant & Dec nor ITV wanted to compromise the quality of the show and therefore felt it was better to rest the series next year. They will instead bring the show back in 2020, bigger and better than ever.
“Ant says: ‘My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.
“‘I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.’
“Dec adds: ‘Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision.
“‘I’m looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.'”
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ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: “ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019. Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year.
“An announcement on I’m A Celebrity plans will be made in due course.”
Statement: https://t.co/lyo3AkWhvo
— antanddec (@antanddec) 9 August 2018
Ant’s troubles with alcohol and prescription medication first came to light last June.
After a stint in rehab over the summer, Ant, 42, returned to TV to present I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, alongside Dec in November last year.
He was also by his co-presenter’s side as a new series of Saturday Night Takeaway began in March, this year, but Dec completed the run himself, after Ant was involved in a drink-drive crash near in south-west London.
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