'THE SHOW MUST GO ON'
Piers Morgan urges Declan Donnelly to break pact with Ant McPartlin after ‘drink-driving’ arrest as ‘the show must go on’
PIERS Morgan has urged Declan Donnelly to break his pact with Ant McPartlin because "the show must go on".
The Good Morning Britain host is adamant Dec must go on without his pal after Ant checked into rehab again following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.
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The Geordie stars have vowed never to host a show solo, but Piers declared today that Dec, 42, needs to strike out on his own to keep his career going while Ant, 42, recovers.
He said: "I think Dec is going through a real crisis himself about what to do career wise.
"They agreed not to [present without the other] but that's under normal circumstances.
"If one of the duo is going through such problems - he [Ant] probably won't be back on TV this year - does Dec now just have to come off TV as well?...
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"[Dec is] devastated for his mate - he is worried that the Ant and Dec brand is being irreparably damaged - it's the second time round.
"But I think he's got to look after himself too - he's a very successful guy in his own right."
Piers insisted Dec couldn't go solo without Ant's blessing as it would look like he's "knifing his mate in the back".
So he urged Ant to make a public statement allowing his pal to continue working without him.
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The GMB host said: "I think if Ant was to say publicly, the show must go on, that would be the right thing to do.
"I think Dec can carry on, he can't be seen to be knifing his mate in the back.
"Ant would have to say, I've [let] him to do that, say break the pact [and go ahead without me].
Piers went on to suggest the warning signs have been there for a while as he thinks Ant "hasn't looked right" for some time.
CCTV captures Ant McPartlin driving moments before car crash and arrest on suspicion of drink-driving
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Ant McPartlin arrives home at 2.30am after arrest for 'drink-drive' crash
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He added: "He's not looked right for a while, I've been concerned about him, but a lot of other people are affected by this - the show has to go on."
The Sun revealed Dec has been left "devastated" after his longtime presenting partner crashed his Mini over the weekend and checked back into rehab to address his personal problems.
Witnesses said the 42-year-old looked dazed following the collision, with one adding: “Ant looked like his world had just ended.”
Ant got back home at 2.40am on Monday following a lengthy spell with cops after his arrest.
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Shocking moment Ant McPartlin is arrested after crashing his car into a lamppost
The star could be seen opening up the door to his home as the media waited outside.
It was thought Ant's car had veered into the wrong lane after coming round a sharp bend on Lower Richmond Road, South West London, and hit a green Mini — then crashed into a BMW X5.
Less than 24 hours earlier, he had been performing with telly partner Declan Donnelly on ITV's Takeaway show.
Police said a child passenger from one of the cars involved in the smash was taken to hospital to be checked as a precaution.
Witness Jake Spencer said Ant rowed with officers as they tried to put him in a police car after he failed a breath test at the crash scene.
He added: “Ant looked in a right state and was acting argumentatively toward a policewoman."
Ant has pulled out of all his upcoming TV work, prompting ITV bosses to cancel this weekend's episode of Saturday Night Takeaway and leaving the rest of the series in jeopardy.
He has also stepped down from all his upcoming work projects, including his hosting stints on I'm A Celeb and Britain's Got Talent.
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