Dec Donnelly DID 'know about Ant McPartlin's addiction battle' and was trying to help

When TV presenter Ant McPartlin checked into rehab for substance addiction last weekend, it was widely reported that his co-host and best friend of over two decades, Declan Donnelly, was completely in the dark about his battle.

Although Dec was “instrumental” in organising the help that Ant desperately needed once his friend confided in him during a “hastily arranged summit”, it was originally believed that Dec had no idea about how much Ant was suffering.

However, those claims have now been rubbished by a new source, who has insisted that Dec absolutely did know about his co-star’s problems and was desperately trying to help him.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the insider explained: “I think the suggestion that Dec did not know what was going on with Ant is just preposterous. They are in each other’s pockets 24/7.”

Another source added that Dec and his wife Ali Astall were even putting off having children because they knew that pregnancy news would be “devastating” for Ant and his wife, Lisa Armstrong, who have been suffering with fertility problems.

Ant and Dec have been best friends since they met on the set of TV show Byker Grove back in 1989, going on to have a glittering music, TV, and presenting career.

The pair are so close that they live just doors away from each other in Chiswick and were best man at one another’s wedding.

After news of Ant’s addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol broke, Dec took to their joint Twitter account to thank fans for their well-wishes.

He wrote at the time: “Thank you for all the kind messages and well wishes for the big fella. He will be touched.

“Your support is, as ever, much appreciated.”

Ant is expected to stay in rehab for at least two months, with it being revealed that his addiction to painkillers started when he suffered a botched knee operation two years ago, leaving him in constant agony.

The pain reportedly left him hooked on Tramadol, with the star also using alcohol in a bid to numb the pain.

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