Declan Donnelly has praised his long-time friend and presenting partner, Ant McPartlin, for turning his life around after his drink-driving ordeal in 2018. Reflecting on Ant’s transformation, Declan shared that his friend is now “a much better person than he was before.”
Ant, 50, hit rock bottom when he was arrested for drink-driving near his London home, leading to the cancellation of Saturday Night Takeaway and a subsequent rehabilitation stint. He was also handed a record £86,000 fine, reportedly the highest fine ever given for this offence in the UK.
In a recent interview with The Times, Declan expressed his admiration for how Ant had taken full responsibility for his actions, saying: “What I most admire is that with the challenges he’s faced, especially over the last few years, Ant took responsibility and real action. He worked on himself so much to get back not just to being himself but actually being a much better person than he was before.”
Ant, who has since gone sober, reflected on his tough early forties and said that turning 50 marked a turning point in his life. “These last few years, it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long, long time,” he admitted, noting that his difficult period has led to a more positive outlook on life. 
While Ant’s career seemed to be in jeopardy after the scandal, he has since rebuilt his life, both professionally and personally. The duo’s future at ITV is secured with a reported £30million deal, and they remain two of the channel’s most popular presenters.
However, the pair’s recent podcast promo sparked outrage after their social media post, featuring feet dangling from the air, was criticized as insensitive and triggering. Mental health advocates and followers slammed the imagery for resembling suicide, forcing Ant and Dec to take down the video and apologize for the oversight.
Despite the backlash, Ant’s recovery continues to be seen as a remarkable example of resilience and growth.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
