Lorraine Kelly has advised Ant McPartlin to remove himself from the spotlight following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.
The 42-year-old was arrested and released under investigation after his car was involved in a collision with two other vehicles in South West London on Sunday afternoon.
It’s now been confirmed Ant will take a break from all current TV commitments as he returns to treatment.
The award-winning presenter voluntarily spent time in rehab last year after struggling with a prescription painkiller addiction sparked by a painful knee operation.
Read more: Ant McPartlin to step down from current TV commitments
Addressing the situation on Tuesday, Lorraine Kelly said: “As you would imagine, Ant McPartlin is back on the front pages this morning with the news he’s heading back to rehab and cancelling all his TV commitments.
“Now, this time yesterday we were sitting here and I said I thought he would back at work on Saturday, it just shows how much I know.”
Ant checked himself into rehab last summer before returning to work in November, joining TV partner Dec Donnelly to film I’m A Celebrity in Australia.
Lorraine said: “I think maybe, who knows, perhaps he came back too soon last year for I’m A Celebrity… Maybe he did. We don’t know.
“But we do wish him well. I know I got stick yesterday for saying I wish him well. But I do.
“And thank goodness it wasn’t worse.”
Lorraine continued: “He needs to go away and get better. Out of the public eye and away from all that. He’s not one of these people who is ‘look at me, look at me’… he’s not like that at all.
“The whole thing is very sad.”
Lorraine agreed with the show’s showbiz correspondent that just because she wished Ant well didn’t mean she was condoning his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.
Ant was involved in a collision with two other cars while he was driving his Mini in Richmond, West London on Sunday, and was arrested at around 4pm after failing a roadside breathalyser test.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said that he was “taken to a south London police station for questioning and has since been released under investigation.”
Inquiries continue, added the spokesperson.
On yesterday’s Lorraine, the host had appeared confident Ant would return for Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.
She had said: “He will be there on Saturday night though, won’t he? A lot of people are speculating that he won’t be there for Saturday Night Takeaway. He will.
“I would be very surprised [if he isn’t].
“Maybe if it’s not right for him to be on the show then he won’t, but I would be astounded [if he isn’t]. He’s such a professional.”
However, it was confirmed late on Monday afternoon that Saturday Night Takeaway will not broadcast this weekend, and Ant will not be involved in the final two shows of the series.
A statement issued by ITV said the channel had made a joint decision with Ant and Dec not to air Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.
“We will be reviewing options for the last two episodes of the series (March 31 and April 7) which would not feature Ant who is taking time off to seek treatment,” said ITV.
“We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.”
A statement from Ant’s spokesperson on Monday afternoon read: “Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments.
“He has spoken with Dec and ITV today and asked for time off for the foreseeable future.
“As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.”
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