Ant McPartlin has checked into rehab.
The 41-year-old presenter will spend at least two months at the clinic after he decided last night (17.06.17) to seek help for his addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "The first step is to admit to yourself you need help. I’ve let people down. I’m truly sorry.
"I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that I’m truly sorry. I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends through this really difficult time.
"I have spoken out because I think it is important that people ask for help if they are going through a rough time and get the proper treatment to help their recovery."
The ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ host believes things started to spiral out of control two years ago when he had an operation to fix cartilage in his right knee.
He’s convinced the surgery was "botched" and his life has not been the same since.
He went under the knife again last week after doctors realised his kneecap had slipped because of a fracture that went undetected and had eroded the bone away.
But in a bid to numb the pain, he began taking the prescription drug Tramadol and soon realised that he’d become hooked on the painkiller, which can cause speech disturbances, lack of co-ordination, headaches and drowsiness.
A source said: "Ant liked nothing better than a round of golf to unwind – but now he has been told he may never play again.
"You’ve never seen him so down. He’s been trapped in his house causing him to turn to substance abuse as a way of escaping his troubles."
Ant has also been battling with depression and anxiety, which reportedly turned him to the booze, because he and his wife Lisa are struggling to start a family.
An insider explained: "Lisa turned 40 recently and is desperate to have kids. Lately they’ve started wondering if it will really ever happen for them. They remain devoted to one another but there’s been a lot of friction. It feels like something is missing, and if kids came along it would make the world of difference to both of them."
Ant McPartlin checks into rehab
