ITV viewers 'in tears' over pre-recorded scenes of Ant and Dec together
Britain's Got Talent fans were left feeling emotional on Saturday night after Ant McPartlin's final TV scenes for a while were finally aired.
The pre-recorded audition shows were the last bits of presenting Ant did before his drink drive arrest in March. He is now taking some time away from TV work to focus on his health.
Britain's Got Talent live semi-finals begin on Monday at 7.30pm on ITV, but Dec will be hosting these alone - just as he did the Ant and Dec Saturday Night Takeaway finale in Florida.
With that in mind, Britain's Got Talent fans felt particularly emotional on Saturday night, at the prospect of waving goodbye to their favourite duo for a while.
"It's just hit me that this is the last time we'll see Ant and Dec together on BGT this year," one fan tweeted.
Another said: "The most upsetting part of this episode is the fact its Ants last one. #BritainsGotTalent #bgt"
Ant was fined £86,000 following his drink drive smash and later announced he'd be checking into rehab and taking a break from presenting for the foreseeable future.
Apologising for his actions, Ant, 42 - whose had a turbulent year following the breakdown of his marriage to Lisa Armstrong - said: "I just want to say I'm truly sorry for what happened.
"High standards are expected of me, I expect them of myself. I've let myself down, I let a lot of people down. And for that I am truly sorry.
"I'd like apologise to everybody involved in the crash and I'm just thankful no-one was seriously hurt."
With Britain's Got Talent nearly over for another year, the next TV show in Ant and Dec's diary is I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - which airs at the end of the year.
But, according to close pal Stephen Mulhern - Ant won't be back in time to present it.
“Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be back to his old self for next year," Stephen revealed.
"But he does need the rest and to be left alone, and given the time to recover.”
