Beloved television presenter Ant McPartlin has declared he is a profoundly changed man, stating that the person he was a decade ago during his public struggles with addiction 'doesn't exist' anymore.
A Decade of Transformation
In a candid and reflective conversation, the 50-year-old half of the iconic duo Ant and Dec detailed his journey to sobriety and personal growth. McPartlin, who became teetotal after a well-documented battle with painkiller and alcohol addiction, credits his transformation to a combination of rehabilitation, becoming a father, and finding stability in his personal life.
His troubles became headline news in April 2018 when he was convicted of drink-driving, leading to a two-month ban from his TV presenting duties. This followed a two-month stint in rehab in 2017, where he addressed addictions that he says originated from a painful knee operation in 2015.
"I'm reading about this other person who doesn't exist. That's not me," McPartlin explained, looking back at that difficult period. "I'm trying to turn my life around and I'm a better man now than I was 10 years ago. I'm happy with that."
Fatherhood and a New Chapter
A cornerstone of McPartlin's new life is his family. He married his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, in August 2021, having been in a relationship with her since 2018. The couple are parents to son Wilder, born in 2024, and McPartlin is a stepfather to Anne-Marie's two daughters from a previous relationship.
He lavished praise on his wife, describing her as a "sage" when they first got together due to her experience as a mother. "I was like a sponge and I just tried to learn everything," he said. With the arrival of Wilder, he humorously noted it felt like they were "both starting again."
The star also confessed that fatherhood has forced him to clean up his language, admitting he is "getting told off a lot for swearing" around his 19-month-old son.
Dec's Silent Health Battle Revealed
The intimate podcast chat, recorded with friend Fearne Cotton for her Happy Place podcast, also saw McPartlin's lifelong professional partner, Declan Donnelly, open up about his own private struggles.
For the first time, Dec revealed he sought therapy around five or six years ago to deal with persistent anxiety. "I struggle a bit with... a low level, constant anxiety," Donnelly confessed. He described a relentless internal voice pushing him to be productive, making it difficult to relax. "I went through a period of having therapy... I really got a lot out of it. I really enjoyed it," he added.
Both presenters reflected on their enduring careers hosting prime-time juggernauts like Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent. They emphasised their serious approach to creating family-friendly entertainment. "We do the best job in the world. We have a laugh every day," said Ant, while Dec explained their mission is to "grab each generation and entertain them."
Ultimately, Ant McPartlin's message is one of redemption and forward momentum. By focusing on his family, his health, and his partnership with Dec, he has firmly closed the door on a painful past, embracing the man he has worked so hard to become.
