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23rd Aug 2018

Dec will be joined by a new co-host for I’m a Celebrity after Ant drops out

Kyle Picknell

The news has been confirmed by the ITV head honcho

Where did that phrase come from by the way? Head honcho? Well, let me tell you, after a quick Google search: it comes from the Japanese word “honcho” which roughly translates as “squad leader”. So there you go. Don’t say you never learn anything from our articles.

Anyway, the ITV squad leader has confirmed that one half of the loveable Geordie duo of Ant & Dec will be replaced for the upcoming season of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here! after Ant McPartlin quit the show last week.

The presenters confirmed that Ant won’t be a part of the new series following his break from all television and presenting roles after being involved in a drink driving accident and entering rehab earlier in the year. He was banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000 after pleading guilty to driving whilst over twice the legal limit.

Kevin Lygo, current boss at ITV, has now stated that someone has already been confirmed to join Dec as co-host in the jungle, but wouldn’t reveal who it is just yet during an appearance at the Edinburgh TV festival.

“He’s [Ant] doing really well and everything he need to do to get better”, Lygo also said, of Ant’s continued road to recovery.

Interestingly, when quizzed on the channel’s perceived over-reliance on presenting pairings Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, the head of studios at ITV stated: “I don’t see ITV’s primary function as to foster new talent.”

His comments will do little to dispel the rumours that Holly Willoughby, a close friend of Ant and Dec, will be joining the latter down under for the new series set to kick-off later this year.

Stephen Mulhern and Scarlett Moffatt are also believed to be in contention for the role, but we won’t find out for sure just yet.