Ant McPartlin returning to 'Britain's Got Talent' with Declan Donnelly

Ant McPartlin will return to filming with Declan Donnelly on Friday 18 January, ITV has confirmed.

After taking most of 2018 out of television work, following his battle with substance abuse and drink-driving arrest, McPartlin will resume filming Britain's Got Talent this week.

In March McPartlin was arrested for drink-driving after he crashed his Mini Cooper into two cars in Richmond, Southwest London.

He was subsequently fined £86,000 and given a 20 month ban on driving after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

This came just months after he, and his wife of 11 years Lisa Armstrong, announced their separation. The couple officially divorced in October, which was granted in less than 30 seconds during a Central Family Court hearing.

McPartlin's challenging year led him to halt filming Britain's Got Talent midseason, pull out of co-hosting Saturday Night Takeaway and also cancel his hosting duties on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

This Morning's Holly Willoughby stepped in McPartlin's absence for I'm a Celebrity, which still proved to be a ratings success in his absence.

Ant & Dec have been appearing on television together since 1989 when they both acted in teen soap Byker Grove. They went on to create their singing act 'PJ & Duncan' and by 1995 were hosting their own show, The Ant & Dec Show.

They have won multiple awards for their presenting work, including 17 National Television Awards. This year the pair are up for an NTA, despite McPartlin barely appearing on television last year.

While the audition process for Britain's Got Talent will begin this month, the show is not due to air on ITV until springtime this year.