David Walliams has said he can relate to Ant McPartlin following his drink driving charge and return to rehab.
Walliams, who worked alongside McPartlin on Britain’s Got Talent, said struggling to deal with personal hardships is difficult when you’re in the public eye.
The comedian compared dealing with his father’s death to McPartlin’s situation, telling Radio Times: “Ant and Dec are incredibly relatable and recognisable and the hard thing when you’re well-known is that when things go awry in your life, it gets played out in public.
“I remember when my father was dying, I was on the phone to him and people were coming up for selfies.
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“It’s hard as they want you to be smiley and happy but you’re going through something that’s causing you pain.”
McPartlin, 42, was charged with drink driving after crashing his car into two vehicles in Richmond earlier this month.
All together: Ant McPartlin with David Walliams and co at the Britain's Got Talent auditionsPAHe later announced his return to rehab and the cancellation of all his upcoming work commitments. It has yet to be confirmed if he will host the Britain’s Got Talent live shows with Declan Donnelly.
The Geordie TV star, X, was forced to present the remaining episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway alone, including the series finale at Universal Studios, Florida.
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Donnelly thanked the audience for their support after the show went off air, adding that it had been "fun" but "tinged with sadness".
He then asked for a round of applause for McPartlin “who is back at home".
He added: "He'll appreciate that."
Britain's Got Talent is on ITV, April 14