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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Needham

Ant and Dec prepare for explosive book release after near split over Ant's drink-driving

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have announced plans to release a brand new autobiography promising to lift the lid on the highs and lows of their 30-year friendship and joint TV career.

The ten years since their last novel - 2010's Ooh! What a Lovely Pair - have been some of their most drama-filled yet, with the duo rocked by a scandal that almost split them apart for good.

Dec has already admitted that he came very close to parting ways with Ant following his friend's drink-drive conviction.

In 2018 Ant was found to be twice the legal limit when he smashed into two cars - one containing a child - while driving in West London.

(GC Images)

Dec called Ant's actions 'indefensible' and weighed up going it alone permanently when Ant was forced to pull out of their remaining Saturday Night Takeaway episodes and later I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.

In an interview with the Guardian last year, Ant recalled Dec's furious reaction the first time they spoke to each other after his car crash.

"He's angry, of course he's angry. It's justified and I understand," he said.

Within days of his arrest, Ant checked himself into rehab to receive treatment for alcohol, addiction and mental health issues.

He was fined a record £86,000 for the offence and banned from driving for 20 months.

The pair have won several awards for their presenting duties (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

When Ant was feeling better, he and Dec sat down for crisis talks where they reassessed their careers and relationship.

"For the first time in many years, all we talked about were deep things like how we felt, and what the future held, and where we were, and all the chaos that has come along, especially for me," explained Ant.

Ultimately, Dec decided that he couldn't leave Ant and wanted to see his childhood pal back to his best.

Last year Ant re-joined Dec for I'm A Celeb and in January the pair were awarded their 19th consecutive Best Presenter trophy at the National Television Awards.

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (Mirrorpix)
Ant and Dec will be hosting the series together again (davidwalliams/Twitter)

In their last autobiography, the pair revealed that they'd made a secret agreement that whatever happened between them they would never part ways.

"Neither one of us would ever be on our own out there. We made an agreement – whatever happened, we'd be mates forever, and neither one of us would ever be on our own out there. If it all ended tomorrow, we'd still speak every day, we'd still see each other all the time and we'd still be best mates. And that's something we're both very proud of," they said.

Their latest book - Once Upon A Tyne: Our Story Celebrating 30 years together on telly - will explore how the Geordie duo were almost forced to rip up their own pact.

As well as the hard times, the pair will also share with fans some of their most memorable moments in showbusiness from Byker Grove to Britain's Got Talent.

Once Upon A Tyne is described as 'the riotously funny journey of two ordinary lads from Newcastle who went on to achieve extraordinary things.'

The book will be released on September 3 and is available to pre-order now.

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