The presenter - one half of hosting duo Ant and Dec - shared a short message on Twitter, following the announcement he would not returning to TV for the rest of the year.
Open Image Modal
Ant McPartlin
PA Wire/PA Images
He wrote: “Thank you for all the messages of support. Ax.”
It followed an official statement from the star issued by his spokesperson, which read: “My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.
“I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.”
As part of Ant’s on-going recovery following his charge for drink-driving earlier this year, he has stood down as co-host of this year’s ‘I’m A Celebrity’, as well as cancelling next year’s series of ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’.
The hit entertainment show will now not return until 2020, while it remains unclear if Ant will also resume filming the new series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ when auditions kick off in January.
It’s not yet known whether Dec will front the upcoming series of ‘I’m A Celebrity’ by himself, or with a temporary co-host.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo has said plans for the show will announced “in due course”.
Open Image Modal
Ant will not host this year's 'I'm A Celebrity' with Declan Donnelly
Rex/Shutterstock/ITV
Dec said in a statement: “Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision. I’m looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.”
After Ant was arrested for drink-driving back in March, he quit all TV commitments and headed back to rehab, having spent two months there last year, after he became addicted to painkillers to help with a botched knee operation.
He was later fined £86,000 in court after pleading guilty to the drink-driving charge.
Ant and Dec Through The Years
(01 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec, aka PJ and Duncan, in 1994. (Photo credit: Getty)
(02 of17)
Open Image Modal
British pop duo PJ and Duncan instore at HMV in 1994. (Photo credit: PA)
(03 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec, aka PJ and Duncan, in 1994. (Photo credit: PA/Jez C Self/EMPICS Entertainment)
(04 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec larking about with Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie in 1996. (Photo credit: PA)
(05 of17)
Open Image Modal
Pop duo PJ & Duncan in the studio in 1996 (Photo credit: PA)
(06 of17)
Open Image Modal
PJ and Duncan in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1996. (Photo credit: PA)
(07 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Byker Grove with fellow stars in 1998. (Photo credit: Rex Features)
(08 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec with Cat Deeley in 1998, co-hosts of SMTV://Live. (Photo credit: PA)
(09 of17)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
Ant and Dec as The Ugly Sisters in Madame Tussauds Celebrity Pantomime in 2005. (Photo credit: PA)
(14 of17)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
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)
Open Image Modal
Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly arriving for the 2012 NTA Awards at the O2, Greenwich, London. (Photo credit: PA)
(17 of17)
Open Image Modal
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)