Ant McPartlin will not return to I'm A Celeb this year

One half of television's favourite duo will be missing during this year's I'm A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! .

McPartlin took a break from his hosting jobs following a drunk driving incident in April. He was charged £86,000 for the offence and was disqualified from driving for 20 months.

He spend two months in intense rehab for addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. He had been expected to return to television by the end of the year.

However, Ant McPartlin announced today he will continue his break from television. He released a statement saying, "My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off. I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.”

Ant's co-host and long time friend added, "Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision. I’m looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.”

ITV also released a statement saying, "ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: "ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019. Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course."

Dec has received praise for carrying on as a solo presenter for the live shows of Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway .