David Walliams felt "really emotional" as Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly reunited for the new series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
The 47-year-old comedian will be sizing up contestants in the upcoming 13th series of the popular ITV show – alongside fellow judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon – and he is happy the presenting pair are back to co-host the show after Ant took a break last year.
David said: "It was lovely to see when they stepped back on the stage together in London how excited people were to see them together.
"It was really emotional and I was pleased for them. It was just how it always was."
Ant was arrested in May 2018 and was later fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
He then took time out from his presenting partnership with Dec – who hosted ‘BGT’ 2018 alone – to focus on getting help for his addictions.
The ‘Little Britain’ star admitted the 43-year-old presenters are "really nice blokes", and he loves to spend time with them.
He said: "Ant and Dec are really nice blokes and they are ‘what you see is what you get’ type of people.
"It’s not like they have a persona that’s different to how they are on TV, that’s why people love them so much, they’re just so natural and themselves.
"It was nice being back together. I love being around those two.
"Obviously, I don’t get to do so much with them because we’re on the judges’ table, but I feel a kinship with them because, well, one is I’ve known them for about 25 years because I started off writing for them."
Fellow judge Alesha was also delighted to see the pair back on the show, because it was like "getting the family back together".
She said: "It’s been like getting the family back together, it just feels normal. We’ve been working together for so long now that when we’re together it just feels right.
"I think it’s because they have a genuine friendship and they are exactly the same off camera as they are on camera.
"They won at the National TV Awards again this year and I think they are always going to dominate things like that because the longer they are together the more respect people have for them and the more people love them. So I can’t see that wavering any time soon."
Amanda added: "Oh, this year has been so lovely! The live shows were not the same without him [Ant].
"We are the best team, we get on so well, we can take the mickey out of each other, we support each other and there’s a natural chemistry between us all that you can’t make happen with other panels."
The new series of ‘BGT’ will begin on ITV on Saturday (06.04.19).
David Walliams felt ’emotional’ about Ant and Dec’s BGT return
