Dermot O’Leary would rather Ant McPartlin got better than him win a National Television Award.
The X Factor presenter has missed out on scooping the Most Popular Presenter gong at the prestigious ceremony for the last 17 years because Ant and his partner Dec Donnelly always win it, but this year it’s been thrown open to all contenders as the 42-year-old presenter has been on a self-imposed hiatus since he was involved in a drink-driving crash earlier this year.
However, Dermot, 45, is adamant he has no plans to sweep in a claim the prize for himself this year as he would rather see Ant – who checked into rehab earlier this year – make a comeback.
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Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: “We just want Ant to get better and come back. I’m in this game because I love my job.
“But I’d much rather see Ant come back and be healthy than win a National Television Award.
“I didn’t make the shortlist last year so I’m not banking on it.”
Since Ant has pulled out of his work duties, Dec has been covering their projects – such as Saturday Night Takeaway – by himself, but he’ll be joined by Holly Willoughby next month when ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ returns for another series Down Under.
But, before she agreed to take on the role, Holly spoke with Ant to make sure he was happy.
She said recently: “He was part of the discussion from the off. He’s happy that I’m looking after it until he gets back. It does help that we all know each other.”
Holly’s husband Dan Baldwin will take their children, Harry, nine, Belle, seven, and four-year-old Chester, out to Australia while she’s filming the show as her main concern in taking on the job was being separated from her family for a month.
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She explained: “Dan will bring them out, so it’s a little adventure for them as well. It was an issue. I don’t think I could have left them for that long.
“Obviously they’re going to have a tutor, but their school was really understanding.
“They’ve never been to Australia, but they have some Australian friends at school who’ve been telling them all about the giant spiders that live down the toilet, so they’ve been calling them bum-eating spiders.”
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