Ant McPartlin posts heartfelt message to 'little fella' Declan Donnelly as he misses I'm A Celebrity

Ant and Dec will not present this series of I'm A Celebrity together
PA Wire/PA Images
Ella Wills18 November 2018
The Weekender

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Ant McPartlin has sent an emotional message to his television partner Declan Donnelly ahead of tonight's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

McPartlin is missing this series of the show following a drink-driving conviction.

But he wished Donnelly and his replacement Holly Willoughby the best of luck in a sweet message on Twitter.

He tweeted: "All the very best of luck to the little fella and @hollywills for the show tonight. Lots of love from the big fella!! A #ImACeleb Xxxxxx."

McPartlin's tweet came after Donnelly posted a birthday message to McPartlin, who is missing marking the day in Australia for the first time in years while absent from I'm A Celeb.

Donnelly shared a picture of himself and McPartlin dressed as characters from The Simpsons - he as Marge, and McPartlin as Homer - on social media hours before the new series kicks off.

He wrote: "Happy Birthday Homer. Love, Marge Xx."

McPartlin is usually Down Under with his long-time presenting partner and best friend to celebrate his birthday, as the programme coincides with the late November date.

This is the first series of the ITV reality show that McPartlin has not hosted since it began in 2002, as he takes time away from TV commitments following a drink-driving conviction.

He was banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000.

Holly Willoughby is joining Donnelly as co-presenter for the new series, which will see the likes of football boss Harry Redknapp, DIY SOS host Nick Knowles, ex-EastEnders star Rita Simons and entertainer and actor John Barrowman compete to be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.

Shortly after his birthday message to McPartlin, Donnelly shared photos of himself and Willoughby at the I'm A Celeb camp.

He wrote: "Showing the new girl around camp! Not hanging around though, got some new camp mates ready to move in."

I'm A Celebrity starts at 9pm on Sunday on ITV.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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