Declan Donnelly will refuse to host I'm A Celebrity without Ant McPartlin

Last weekend it was reported that This Morning favourite Holly Willoughby could be hosting this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Declan Donnelly as his usual co-host, Ant McPartlin, continues to recover from addiction problems in rehab.

However, it has now been claimed that Dec is adamant that he won’t be hosting the show without Ant, but he is confident that his best friend will make a full recovery in time to honour his commitments.

Speaking to The Mirror, a friend of the star explained: “Dec wouldn’t work on screen without Ant on any major show and he has said the last thing he would do is go to Australia without him.

“To say he would consider working with Holly was ridiculous. He is a good friend of hers but he would not do that to Ant.

“Ant and Dec are a team with a huge emotional bond, they are like brothers and and Dec will only be hosting I’m A Celebrity with Ant by his side.

“They’ve got months yet to sort things out and the hope is that Ant will bounce back with another hit series of I’m A Celebrity and they will move on from this chapter in their career.”

ITV bosses offered Ant a year off work after he checked into rehab last month due to addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol.

At the time, Ant released a statement which read: “I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that I am truly sorry.

“I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends for helping me through this really difficult time.

“I’ve spoken out because I think it’s important that people ask for help if they’re going through a rough time and get the proper treatment to help their recovery.

“The first step is to admit to yourself you need help.”

Although show chiefs have offered Ant the time off, it has been reported that they believe Ant will be fighting fit for I’m A Celebrity in November this year, and they haven’t drawn up a shortlist of potential replacement hosts.

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Read more:

[ Robbie Williams offers his support to Ant McPartlin ]

[ Ant McPartlin and wife Lisa’s secret baby heartache ]

[ Dec Donnelly breaks his silence after Ant checks into rehab ]