ITV Brands Claims Ant And Dec Will Be Replaced On 'I'm A Celebrity' 'Utter Nonsense'

That clears that up then.
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ITV has hit back at reports Ant and Dec are set to be replaced as hosts of ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!’

The broadcaster branded claims new presenters will not front the next series after Ant’s return to rehab “utter nonsense”. 

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Ant and Dec
PA Wire/PA Images

After the report was published in the Daily Star, a spokesperson told The Mirror: “It is utter nonsense to suggest that Ant and Dec are set to be replaced on ‘I’m A Celebrity’.”

However, it still remains unknown if Ant will be well enough to front the show when it returns in November.

He has pulled out of all TV commitments to return to treatment, after being arrested for drink-driving last week. 

Dec will front the rest of the current series of ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ without him, and is also tipped to present the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ live shows by himself. The auditions have already been filmed with Ant present. 

Dec previously said in a statement: “Whilst I never thought I’d be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we’ve decided that the remaining two shows of this series of ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ will go ahead.  

“We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honour that. 

“Everyone at ITV and the ‘Takeaway’ team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series.”

Last week, it was also revealed Suzuki had ended the pair’s £20 million endorsement deal, after Ant was formally charged with drink-driving

He is due to appear in court on 4 April. 

Ant has had a difficult year after spending two months in a rehabilitation facility for an addiction to prescription painkillers last summer, following a botched knee operation.

In January, he also announced his split from wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong.

Ant and Dec Through The Years
(01 of17)
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Ant and Dec, aka PJ and Duncan, in 1994. (Photo credit: Getty)
(02 of17)
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British pop duo PJ and Duncan instore at HMV in 1994. (Photo credit: PA)
(03 of17)
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Ant and Dec, aka PJ and Duncan, in 1994. (Photo credit: PA/Jez C Self/EMPICS Entertainment)
(04 of17)
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Ant and Dec larking about with Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie in 1996. (Photo credit: PA)
(05 of17)
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Pop duo PJ & Duncan in the studio in 1996 (Photo credit: PA)
(06 of17)
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PJ and Duncan in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1996. (Photo credit: PA)
(07 of17)
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Ant and Dec celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Byker Grove with fellow stars in 1998. (Photo credit: Rex Features)
(08 of17)
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Ant and Dec with Cat Deeley in 1998, co-hosts of SMTV://Live. (Photo credit: PA)
(09 of17)
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Anthony McPartlin (left), and Declan Donnelly, Ant & Dec, with their Most Popular entertainment Presenter awards at the National Television Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2002. (Photo credit: PA)
(10 of17)
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Pop Idol presenters Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right) celebrate with Will Young from Hungerford, Berkshire, at the Fountain Studios in London, after he was voted Britain's Pop Idol in 2002. (Photo credit: PA)
(11 of17)
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Pop Idol judges (from left) Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox, pose with show hosts Ant and Dec (Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly) during a press conference at Thames TV in London, to launch a new series of Pop Idol in 2003. (Photo credit: PA)
(12 of17)
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Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly pose with the awards for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality and Best Comedy Entertainment Programme for Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway in the Awards Room at the 'British Comedy Awards 2004' on December 22, 2004 at London Television Studios in London. (Photo credit: Claire Greenway/Getty Images)
(13 of17)
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Ant and Dec as The Ugly Sisters in Madame Tussauds Celebrity Pantomime in 2005. (Photo credit: PA)
(14 of17)
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Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right) with the Entertainment Performance award received for I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! at the BAFTA television awards at the London Palladium in 2010. (Photo credit: PA)
(15 of17)
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Ant and Dec take part in the 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' Bush Tucker Trial 'Greasy Spoon', in November 2011. (Photo credit: Rex Features)
(16 of17)
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Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly arriving for the 2012 NTA Awards at the O2, Greenwich, London. (Photo credit: PA)
(17 of17)
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Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly with their awards for Entertainment Presenter, backstage at the National Television Awards 2012 at the Greenwich Arena London. (Photo credit: PA)