Ant McPartlin has returned to work for the first time in almost a year, for the 'Britain's Got Talent' auditions.
Ant and Dec via Twitter (c)
The 43-year-old TV presenter took some time off last year - including missing the latest 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' series - after he was convicted of drink-driving in the spring and went to rehab to face his demons, but on Friday (18.01.19) he returned to work as he began filming the upcoming series of the ITV talent competition alongside presenting partner Declan Donnelley.
In a tweet posted from the duo's Twitter account - which featured a picture of them en route to the auditions at the London Palladium - they wrote: "#BGT 2019. Audition day 1. The boys are back in town! (sic)"
Ant's return to work comes just one day after 'Good Morning Britain's entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold teased the comeback on the ITV morning show.
He said: "I can officially announce that after a year off Ant will start filming on the new series of 'BGT'.
"Can you believe it has come around again? How the time flies.
"They're reuniting on Friday for the auditions of course, getting underway in London on Friday before the rest of the 'BGT' continue their search for talent next month."
The presenter was involved in a three-car collision in south-west London on 18 March last year, and was later fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving.
He entered rehab for his addictions, and in August said his recovery was going "very well".
Ant is also expected to return to 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' at the end of the year, after being temporary replaced by Holly Willoughby.
At the ITV show's after party, Dec hailed Holly's performance when he said: "There is nobody I would have preferred to stood next to.
"We were thrilled with the ratings, they are absolutely great. Holly has been fantastic too, just brilliant. She was the one I wanted and I am thrilled she did it."
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