Ant McPartlin's mum had no idea he was drunk before getting behind the wheel

Ant McPartlin’s mum had no idea that her son was twice over the drink-drive limit when he crashed his car, it was revealed in court this week.

After appearing in court yesterday, Ant, 42, pleaded guilty to drinking while under the influence of alcohol that caused a three-car crash.

In the Mini Ant crashed were his mother, Christine, and his and estranged wife Lisa Armstrong’s pet Labrador, Hurley. But the Wimbledon court heard that she had no clue that the TV star was intoxicated, after the pair had taken their dogs out for a walk in Richmond Park on the afternoon of Sunday, 18 March.

The Saturday Night Takeaway presenter was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months as a result of failing a roadside breathalyser test.

In a statement that was read out in court, Ant’s relapse was said to have been caused by the breakdown of his 11-year marriage to Lisa as well as ’emotional problems’.

The judge described his ‘exemplary character’ but followed that up by saying he is ‘no longer a man of good character’ after the incident.

The star, who crashed his Mini while more than twice the legal limit, has told reporters outside court he is ‘truly sorry for what happened’. He also said that he felt ‘ashamed and mortified’ for what he’d done.

Since the crash and arrest, Declan Donnelly, 42, has taken sole hosting duties for both SNT and the new series of Britain’s Got Talent. After having the SNT show after Ant’s arrest cancelled, Dec returned to TV for the final two episodes and drew in huge numbers in the process.

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