Ant McPartlin was diagnosed in 2018, after he was arrested for drink-driving following a car accident, and the ITV star said the condition is ‘professionally brilliant’
Ant McPartlin (Image: Vincent Cole – Manchester Evening News)
TV presenter Ant McPartlin has candidly spoken about a life-changing health diagnosis he received during a tumultuous period in his life.
The Britain’s Got Talent host revealed that he had been struggling with personal issues for years before being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Ant, 49, received his diagnosis in 2018, following a car accident and subsequent arrest for drink-driving, which led to a 20-month driving ban and a hefty £86,000 fine.
The accident occurred when he crashed his Mini into two vehicles with his mother Christine as a passenger, unaware that he was twice over the drink-drive limit.
Reflecting on his experience with ADHD, characterised by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, the Saturday Night Takeaway presenter openly shared: “I’ve got ADHD. I don’t mind talking about that.”
He added that the thorough examination and diagnosis helped him discover aspects of himself that he had neglected for years.
In a 2019 interview with The Sun, Ant mentioned that his diagnosis immediately made sense to him, given the condition’s association with struggles with alcohol.
He noted, “There are a lot of links to alcohol-dependency, which I studied a lot when I was away.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Ant also observed that while his condition benefits his professional life, it hinders his personal life.
“In my job, having what they call ‘popcorn thinking’ is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another,” he explained. “Professionally it’s brilliant. Personally I’m all over the place.”
The NHS describes ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as a behavioural condition, noting that individuals with ADHD may encounter related complications such as sleep and anxiety disorders.
Following a car crash, TV personality Ant McPartlin sought treatment in rehab, where doctors highlighted the mortal risk posed by his addictions to painkillers and alcohol.
The star, known for “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!”, developed an addiction to prescription medication after a knee operation in 2015.
In a candid chat with The Sun on Sunday post-rehab, Ant acknowledged his grave situation, saying: “I was at the point where anything – prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs – I would take.
“And take them with alcohol, which is ridiculous. The doctors told me, ‘You could have killed yourself’.”
Remembering the accident, Ant recounted: “I was taken away in a police van. I was in a cell for a long time.
“I failed the breath test. It was horrific.”
Ant further expressed the devastation he felt: “The whole world came crashing in. It was like an explosion of the worst possible moment in my life.”
He reflected, warning others: “And if you don’t listen to that, you’d be the biggest fool out there.”
He subsequently made significant lifestyle changes: “Now I don’t drink at all. I’ve been sober over nine months. I’ve got no intention of drinking. And I just feel good.”
Regarding the incident’s impact, he shared: “When it happened, my first thought wasn’t, ‘Oh my God, my career’s going down the spiral.”
Ant described the moment of the crash: “My first thought was, ‘S*** is my Mam OK? Are the dogs OK? Are the fellow passengers in the other cars OK? What happened here?'”.
He recalled being disoriented: “I was shocked because I’d been hit in the face with an air bag. I was in an altered state.”
The incident left him grappling with difficult emotions: “I was full of shame, guilt, remorse embarrassment, just a sense of disbelief.”
Reflecting on the aftermath, Ant shared his gratitude that no one was badly hurt: “I thank God every night that no one was seriously injured in that crash.”
He acknowledged the potential severity of the situation: “Because we would be having a very different interview today if that was the case.”
