ITV I'm A Celebrity's Ant McPartlin opens up on 'life-changing' medical diagnosis

Television favourite Ant McPartlin has opened up about the health diagnosis that profoundly impacted his life.

The beloved presenter, who's regularly seen on ITV's 'I'm A Celebrity' with co-host and friend Declan Donnelly, is known for his bright demeanour.

Yet, off-camera, Ant has grappled with a significant personal hurdle. After experiencing several difficulties, he received a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), which, according to him, helped make sense of various aspects of his life and brought the world into sharper focus.

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As he celebrated his 49th birthday, Ant shared honest reflections about how understanding his ADHD has shed light on many characteristics and behaviors he exhibited throughout his life. Chatting with The Sun, he said: "I've got ADHD and I don't mind talking about that. I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn't addressed for years."

Ant reminisced over his early days in the popular programme 'Byker Grove' during the 80s and considered the subtle ways ADHD has affected his career and private life, things he never knew until now. He also mentioned some attributes of ADHD that he feels have positively influenced his work.

"In my job, having what they call 'popcorn thinking' is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another," reports Chronicle Live. "Professionally, it's brilliant; personally, I'm all over the place."

Ant opened up about his diagnosis of ADHD which surfaced after a series of personal setbacks - notably, in 2018, he faced legal troubles due to drink-driving.

Despite these challenges, Ant believes that his ADHD is strongly tied to his struggles with addiction, particularly alcohol. His honesty adds him to an expanding roster of celebrities sharing their experiences with ADHD, including Lily Allen, Katie Price, and Sam Thompson, last year's winner of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'

As ADHD awareness grows across the UK, more people are seeking diagnoses, contributing to a spike in demand for professional assessment. Symptoms of this neurodivergent condition typically include restlessness, impulsiveness, poor stress management, and organizational difficulties, but ongoing studies are uncovering more varied manifestations.

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