Ant McPartlin will return to ITV "when he is ready", according to the broadcaster’s chief executive.
The 42-year-old presenter has been absent from TV screens over recent months after he was involved in a drink-drive incident in London earlier this year, but Carolyn McCall is already looking forward to his return.
Speaking to ITV News, she explained: "He will come back when he’s well and when he is ready to come back.
"ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he’s well and fit enough to come back."
Asked specifically whether he’ll be returning to ITV, she replied: "As far as I know, that is true."
Ant – who has recently spent time in a rehabilitation facility – appeared in court in April in relation to the drink-driving incident.
The popular star was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to being twice the legal drink-drive limit.
Following his appearance in court, Ant – who has enjoyed an award-winning TV presenting partnership with Dec Donnelly – said: "I just want to say I’m truly sorry for what happened. Higher standards are expected of me – I expect them of myself."
In Ant’s absence, Dec presented the final two episode of this year’s ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ series and all of this year’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ live shows on his own.
As yet, it remains uncertain whether Ant will return to ITV in time to present ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’.
Ant McPartlin ‘will return to ITV’, says broadcaster
