Declan Donnelly talks Ant McPartlin
TV presenter Declan Donnelly opens up about the impact Ant McPartlin's addiction battle had on their friendship.
He says he thought he lost his best friend and that, "filled [him] with fear."
"It has been a tough couple of years and it has tested the bond we have shared since we were 13."
In April last year Ant pleaded guilty to a drink driving offence at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.
Following his arrest, he made the decision to take a break from TV duties.
Dec was left without a co-host and had to take on I'm A Celeb without his best friend for the first time ever.
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Fortunately, Ant made his TV return on Britain's Got Talent earlier this year.
It was later announced that he would be back on co-hosting duties for I'm A Celeb which returns later this month.
Dec opens up
Dec opens up about the impact Ant's addiction battle had on their relationship during Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey.
He admits, "It has been a tough couple of years and it has tested the bond we have shared since we were 13."
The presenter confesses, "I was incredibly angry at the start, so angry."
"Disappointed that he didn't ever come to me and say, "I am struggling, I need you.""
"That is what I would do if the shoe was on the other foot."
"And he never came to me and that hurt me a lot."
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At @itv having meeting about @imacelebrity. Finding out what’s in store and this years celebs....
Dec was, "filled with fear"
When Ant took a step back from TV duties, his best friend and presenting partner was, "filled with fear."
Dec says, "There was a point where I thought that that was it."
"There were times where I wasn't sure it was going to survive."
He continues, "Times where you didn't know it needed to survive or you wanted it to survive."
"All the while he was away I wasn't sure where his head was at or if he was going to say, "none of this is for me.""
"I didn't know what he wanted to do and for the first time in 30 years I had to think about what I was going to do and if I was going to go out on my own."
"The thought of that filled me with fear."
Dec's realisation
It wasn't long before Dec realised that Ant's happiness matters more than anything else.
"Ultimately you realise all those feelings are a bit selfish because they are all about you..."
"How about what he was going through and the unhappiness he felt and how he must have felt to be in that situation, and that is when I became really sad and really sympathetic."
"Because to be in those depths of despair, he must have been so unhappy."
"And that is where ultimately the care and compassion you have for that person overrides everything and you just want them to get better and get support for them."
Meanwhile, the start date has been revealed for the new series of I'm A Celeb.
Read more here.
