Bafta TV Awards 2019: Declan Donnelly insists Holly Willoughby’s I’m a Celeb stint was a ‘one year thing’ despite win
DECLAN Donnelly has insisted Holly Willoughby’s I’m a Celeb stint was a ‘one year thing’ despite their Bafta TV Awards win.
Holly, 38, stood in for Ant McPartlin during the 2018 series while he took a long break from work to focus on his health and well-being after his rehab stint – and was a big hit with viewers.
At Sunday night’s ceremony, the ITV reality show won the Best Reality and Constructed Factual Show gong, with Ant, 43, joining Dec and Holly on stage to receive it.
Backstage, Dec – also 43 – spoke of his delight at working with “old friend” Holly, but insisted her jungle stint was a one off.
He said: “She did make it clear that she saw it as a one year thing so I don’t think she will be back again this year.
“[The series] was always going to go ahead.
“We love doing the show and the audience love the show – it would have been a shame to have paused it.
“It was all about who to partner with really and Holly was always top of my list.”
During the awards, Ant made sure Holly was front and centre to pick up the gong with his best bud Dec.
Dec told the audience: “I’d like to say thank you to Holly for helping me out last year.”
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As everyone clapped, he added: “You did a fantastic job standing in for Ant, who has reluctantly come up here tonight.
“He’s still part of the team, obviously, so we wanted him up here with us to celebrate as well.”
Meanwhile Ant admitted he was unsure he would ever return to the Bafta red carpet while in rehab last year.
The Bafta TV Awards marked his first red carpet since his return to work earlier this year, and when asked if he had worried he may never come back, Ant said: “Of course, yeah, of course I did.
“But you know, it’s hard work and I’m getting through with the support of a true friend like Dec and the public. I got there.
“It means a lot to be back together on the red carpet and we’re just going to have a good night.”
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