Ant McPartlin Back in Rehab After Drink Drive Arrest

TV shows cancelled as star takes time off 'for foreseeable future'

Ant McPartlin, the Chiswick-based, TV presenter is returning to rehab and will be taking time off from broadcasting ‘for the foreseeable future’.

He was arrested this Sunday afternoon (18 March) after his Mini was involved in a collision on the Lower Richmond Road in Mortlake. Three cars were involved in the crash which occurred just before 4pm near the gates of the old Stag Brewery.

It is understood that Mr McPartlin was returning from walking his dog Hurley in Richmond Park with his mother, Christine Woodhall, when he collided head on with another Mini. His car also hit a maroon BMW after the initial collision. He failed a breathalyser test and was arrested and held at a police station for several hours before being released with the police saying he is still under investigation.

Ant McPartlin with Lisa Armstrong

Faheem Vanoo and his wife Shilpa Dandekar were travelling in their green Mini with their daughter Amaira and two colleagues when they were hit head on by Mr McPartlin’s car.

The couple run a restaurant in Fulham called Pure Indian Cooking with Mr Vanoo acting as front of house and Ms Dandekar working as head chef. They were on their way to prepare for the evening shift along with assistant chef Sufyan Raza, 34, and waitress Melania Valeri, 25.

Mr Vanoo told the Sun newspaper that it was fortunate that he and the other passengers were wearing seatbelts and his daughter was strapped into a child seat. Amaira was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The front wheel of Mr Mc Partlin’s black mini was ripped off and the momentum of the car resulted in a second collision with a red BMW X5

After the collision 36-year-old Shilpa, attempted to confront the host of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. She told the Sun, “I was so angry with him I lost my cool and tried to run up to him and smash his face — I had to be held back.

“I had been sitting in the back seat and didn’t realise it then but my face had hit a headrest and my lip was bleeding.”

It has since been announced that the Chiswick-based TV presenter is returning to rehab and will be taking time off from broadcasting ‘for the foreseeable future’.

Saturday Night Takeaway, the ITV show which he hosts with his friend Declan Donnelly has been cancelled for this weekend and Mr McPartlin won’t feature in the next two episodes.

His publicist said in a statement, "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."

An ITV spokesman said, "ITV has taken a joint decision with Ant and Dec's team not to broadcast 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.

"We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs."

Mr McPartlin has only recently returned to broadcasting after a spell in rehab which he entered after becoming addicted to painkillers which he started taking after complications following knee surgery. He is currently in the process of divorcing his wife Lisa Armstrong after 11 years of marriage.

March 20, 2018