I’m A Celebrity host Dec Donnelly has finally opened up about the decision to hand the co-host job to Holly Willoughby while Ant McPartlin was in rehab.
The presenter admitted the show was never going to be axed despite one half of the iconic duo absent.
Speaking backstage at the BAFTA TV Awards, he said: “It 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.”
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Dec revealed that he and Holly were old friends, and was delighted that she accepted the job.
He said that with Holly by his side, the show was in “a safe pair of hands”.
Despite Holly’s roaring success with I’m A Celeb viewers, she will most likely not be returning to the jungle.
Dec 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.”
“I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” picked up the BAFTA TV Award for Best Reality and Constructed Factual Show at this year’s ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.
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Dec and Holly were joined on stage by Ant, who made sure the daytime TV presenter received credit for her role in this year’s success.
Once on stage, Ant was seen ushering Holly to the front so she was stood beside her co-host Dec as he delivered their acceptance speech.
Gesturing towards her, they encouraged Holly to stand beside Dec, who said: “I’d like to say thank you to Holly for helping me out last year.”
The acknowledgement prompted applause from the audience.
Dec 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."
