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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment

I'm A Celebrity: Dec jokes 'Ant is looking well' as first picture with Holly Willoughby revealed

I’m A Celebrity has revealed the first picture of hosts Declan Donnelly and Holly Willoughby ahead of the new series.

Donnelly joked that “Ant is looking well” as he shared the promo pic on social media, showing the This Morning presenter beside him in a brown suede dress.

Alongside a series of Australia and jungle themed emojis, he wrote: “Ant’s looking well don’t you think!?

“I’m joking of course, Holly and I are looking forward to welcoming you to Australia next Sunday night. D.”

Donnelly will front the popular ITV show without McPartlin for the first time in its history after McPartlin stepped away from his TV commitments earlier in the year to recover from addiction.

Willoughby, who is a close friend of the duo, was later confirmed as his stand-in.

I'm A Celebrity share first teaser trailer

New dad Donnelly, 43, has admitted that he couldn’t bear to host the show alongside another man, confessing that Willoughby was top of his list.

He told The Sun: “As always I’m incredibly excited to be heading to Aus for I’m A Celebrity.

Close friends: Declan Donnelly has revealed that pal Holly Willoughby was top of the list to replace Ant McPartlin (Ian West/PA Wire)

“It is obviously tinged with sadness that Ant won’t be coming this year, I’m going to really miss him, but it’s only for one series and he’ll be back stronger next year.”

With a full line-up yet to be announced, camp mate rumours include football manager Harry Redknapp, X Factor runner-up Fleur East and DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles.

I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday, ITV at 9pm

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