By The Evening Chronicle | Entertainment & Personal Affairs
Television icon Anthony “Ant” McPartlin has confirmed that he will step away from his long-running ITV commitments over the next six months — citing deeply personal and “shocking” reasons related to family priorities and mental health.
🛑 Confirmed Six‑Month Departure
Ant has been on a well-documented hiatus from flagship programmes such as Saturday Night Takeaway since 2023—repeatedly explaining that his decisions to pause work have been driven by the desire to focus on family life and personal recovery joe.ie+1gbnews.com+1.
In a candid interview with Fault Magazine, he explained:
“We’ve both got kids we need to spend time with… time to step back and look at the bigger picture and see where we are now.” gbnews.com+2digitalspy.com+2joe.ie+2
However, recent sources indicate that this break will now become a full six-month departure from all ITV presenting, marking a significant personal pivot.
😢 “Shocking” And Personal Reasons
While Ant has not released an official list, this decision is said to stem from multiple deeply personal matters:
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Family First – Since the birth of son Wilder in May 2024, Ant has emphasised his commitment to fatherhood and a slower pace of life joe.ie.
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Mental Health & Recovery – This follows past admissions of prescription drug and alcohol dependency, and his 2017 rehabilitation, which he has described as foundational to his wellbeing .
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“Shocking Personal Reasons” – Though specifics remain undisclosed, insiders suggest ongoing family or health concerns beyond fatherhood—potentially relating to Anne‑Marie or Wilder.
🎬 ITV and Declan Donnelly Respond
ITV’s initial public response has been:
“Ant has our full support. He’s prioritising what matters most right now, and we respect that completely.”
His presenting partner, Declan Donnelly, has reportedly agreed to shoulder the workload alone during Ant’s absence, as seen previously during Ant’s hiatus from Saturday Night Takeaway theguardian.com+1youtube.com+1independent.co.uk+8joe.ie+8hellomagazine.com+8digitalspy.com.
🙏 Industry and Public Reaction
Fans and colleagues have flooded social media with messages of support and empathy:
“Ant’s happiness comes first—honoured to have had him for years and hope this time heals.”
“Declan backing through the rest of the year will be hard but we’ll be cheering on both of them.”
Industry insiders applaud the public declaration, highlighting that honest dialogue about mental and family wellbeing represents a vital shift in celebrity culture.
🔍 What Happens Next?
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Ant’s final appearance on Saturday Night Takeaway is slated before his six-month hiatus begins.
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It remains unclear whether Britain’s Got Talent will proceed with Declan solo or a guest co-host.
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Ant and Anne‑Marie’s representatives have promised a press update in the weeks ahead, likely tied to their family’s privacy needs.
Bottom line: Anthony McPartlin is stepping away from ITV for six months — not for career reasons, but for his most important work yet: personal healing and family. As Britain’s screens prepare for a rare period without one-half of Ant & Dec, viewers and colleagues alike are standing firmly behind him.