Ant McPartlin Will Not Co-Host 'Britain's Got Talent' Live Shows With Declan Donnelly, ITV Boss Confirms

The live shows have also got a new home.

Declan Donnelly will present this year’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ live shows solo, ITV bosses have confirmed.

His usual co-host Ant McPartlin will not return to front the semi-final and grand finale in May, following his arrest for drink driving last month.

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Ant and Dec
Rex

ITV’s Head Of Entertainment Siobhan Greene confirmed the news at a ‘BGT’ press launch on Tuesday (10 April) night.

However, Ant will still feature in the pre-recorded episodes as the audition episodes were filmed earlier this year, prior to his arrest.

Speaking to members of the press including HuffPost UK, Siobhan also revealed this year’s live shows will come from the iconic Hammersmith Apollo, as opposed to the usual studio setting.

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The 'BGT' team.
Rex

None of the show’s presenters or judges were present at Tuesday’s press event as they have been in previous years, which followed the decision to remove Ant and Dec from all promo material for the new series.

Ant is due to appear in court to face charges of drink driving next Monday, after the case was adjourned earlier this month.

Earlier this week it was was revealed that the troubled star was allegedly twice over the legal limit when he was arrested, according to police.

The breathalyser reading was 75mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35 mcg.

Following his arrest, Ant stepped down from all TV commitments to return to rehab, where he is currently seeking treatment.

Dec has since presented the remainder of ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ without Ant to rave reviews from viewers.

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ returns this Saturday at 8pm on ITV.

Ant and Dec Through The Years
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Ant and Dec, aka PJ and Duncan, in 1994. (Photo credit: Getty)
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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)
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Pop duo PJ & Duncan in the studio in 1996 (Photo credit: PA)
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PJ and Duncan in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1996. (Photo credit: PA)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Ant and Dec as The Ugly Sisters in Madame Tussauds Celebrity Pantomime in 2005. (Photo credit: PA)
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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)
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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)
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Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly arriving for the 2012 NTA Awards at the O2, Greenwich, London. (Photo credit: PA)
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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)