Declan Donnelly has publicly praised his long-time presenting partner, Ant McPartlin, for the "real action" he took following his serious drink-driving crash nearly eight years ago. The heartfelt commendation comes as the duo also navigates recent controversy over a promotional video for their new podcast.
The 2018 Incident and Its Aftermath
In March 2018, Ant McPartlin was arrested after colliding with two vehicles near his London home in Richmond. The TV star, who was driving his Mini Cooper after walking his dogs in Richmond Park, hit a BMW driven by Dr. Audrey Ng and another Mini. The crash resulted in a four-year-old passenger from the other Mini requiring hospital treatment.
McPartlin later pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court. The consequences were severe: he received a record £86,000 fine and was banned from driving for 20 months, later reduced to 15 months after completing a referral course. The incident occurred during a tumultuous period, following his split from wife Lisa Armstrong and ongoing treatment for addictions to alcohol and painkillers.
Outside court, a remorseful Ant stated: "I just want to say I’m truly sorry for what happened. Higher standards are expected of me, I expect them of myself. I let myself down, I let a lot of people down." He subsequently cancelled all work commitments and entered residential rehab for a second time.
Dec's Admiration and Past Anger
Speaking to The Times, Declan Donnelly revealed his profound respect for his friend's journey since the crash. "What I most admire is that with the challenges he’s faced, especially over the last few years, Ant took responsibility and real action," Dec said. "He worked on himself so much to get back not just to being himself but actually being a much better person than he was before."
This praise contrasts with Dec's initial fury. He previously admitted to The Guardian that he had considered ending their professional partnership, calling Ant's actions "indefensible". "How could he do that? I wanted to punch him and hug him at the same time," Dec confessed. Ant himself reflected on the "shame and guilt" he felt, acknowledging that "drink-driving is an inexcusable act."
Ant returned to television in 2019 for Britain's Got Talent. He has since rebuilt his life, marrying former personal assistant Anne-Marie in 2021 and welcoming a child in 2024.
Recent Podcast Advert Controversy
The pair faced a separate wave of criticism this week over a promotional video for their new podcast, Hanging Out With Ant and Dec. The clip showed only their feet dangling above the ground, with dialogue suggesting a misunderstanding about the phrase "hanging out," before revealing them pegged to a clothesline.
The imagery was condemned as insensitive and "triggering" by some, including former X Factor star Katie Waissel. She described it as "sickening and deeply disappointing," criticising the evocation of suicide imagery. In response, Ant and Dec issued an apology and removed the video. "We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video and we are sorry if it has upset anyone. We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video," their statement read.
Despite recent missteps, the core of Dec's message remains one of pride in his friend's substantial personal recovery from a very public fall from grace. The journey from the 2018 crash to this point underscores a significant period of accountability and change for one of Britain's most beloved television personalities.
