Simon Cowell is proud of Ant McPartlin for "manning up" by entering a rehab clinic to seek help for his addictions.

Ant McPartlin

Ant McPartlin

The Geordie star was arrested on suspicion of drink driving last month, and has stepped down from his television commitments in order to deal with his problems, leaving his presenting partner Dec Donnelly to present tonight's 'Britain's Got Talent' alone.

However, the ITV show's boss says he's got the 42-year-old TV star's back and the door will always be open for him to return.

He told The Sun newspaper: "We've known each other a long time, and you stand by the people you work with over the years, for the obvious reasons.

"We always stand by our friends. We're all human.

"The most important thing is he's manned up, he's going to get himself back together. And the show goes on, it's as simple as that."

Asked if he'd allow him to do his job again, the music mogul said: "Of course. This is what happens.

"This is happening to people all over the world. People, for whatever reason, they get into a rut and at times like this you stand by your mates. It's always been that way."

Simon also heaped praise on Dec for professionally presenting the pair's show 'Saturday Night Takeaway' on his own twice.

He said: "Dec apparently did a great job, that was hard for him.

"I've always realised with these guys that if and when something like this was going to happen, as Dec proved the other day, he'd deal with it.

"You know what, Ant a million per cent would be supportive of this. It shows Dec's professionalism and what he feels about the show."

Ant will feature in tonight's (14.04.18) episode of 'Britain's Got Talent' in a clip which sees him reduced to tears after hearing magician Marc Spelmann tell the nation about his wife Tessa beating cancer whilst pregnant after seven rounds of IVF treatment.

The former 'Byker Grove' star and his estranged spouse Lisa Armstrong have struggled themselves to conceive a child.

Opening up in 2013, Ant said: "We'd love to have kids. We're trying. It's tougher than you think when you get a bit older."

'Britain's Got Talent' airs on ITV1 at 8pm.

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