Ant McPartlin has opened up about his personal struggles and a life-changing health diagnosis which he’s been dealing with for years.
Despite being one of the most celebrated figures on the small screen, alongside his co-presenter Declan Donnelly, the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! host has dealt with challenges off screen as well.
Diagnosed with ADHD in 2018 in the aftermath of his highly-publicised car crash that led to a drink-driving charge, he’s now speaking out about living with the disorder. Discussing the condition known for symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, he told The Sun: “I’ve got ADHD. 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.”
The discovery of his ADHD apparently clicked for Ant, especially since it often overlaps with alcohol issues, something he reflected upon deeply during his time away from the limelight.
He remarked: “There are a lot of links to alcohol-dependency, which I studied a lot when I was away.”
Yet, Ant believes that ADHD also plays a positive role professionally, allowing him what he calls ‘popcorn thinking’ – the ability to quickly move between thoughts and tasks, an asset in the dynamic world of live TV presenting. But on a personal level, he admits he can be ‘all over the place’.
Empathising with those facing similar battles, he sends out a heartfelt message: “There will be so many others who will be struggling and my heart goes out to them.”
The dad-of-one joins a list of celebrities, including I’m A Celeb champ Sam Thompson, Lily Allen, Sheridan Smith, and Katie Price, who’ve been candid about their ADHD diagnosis. Ant appears to be managing his ADHD well after tying the knot with Anne-Marie Corbett, with whom he welcomed their first child, Wilder.
Fans were delighted by recent photos of Ant in Australia cuddling his newborn while on hiatus from filming I’m A Celebrity. The Byker Grove alumnus, wed to Anne-Marie since 2021, broke the news of becoming a father sharing: “Welcome to the family, Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54 am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess! ” This update was posted alongside an endearing photo of him and Wilder.
Ant, alongside his presenting partner Dec, left audiences surprised earlier in the year when they revealed their departure from Saturday Night Takeaway to focus on family time. Speaking to Fault magazine, Ant disclosed: “On a personal level, part of the reason we’re pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family… We’ve both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.”
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