Ant McPartlin is back on our screens as he hosts I’m A Celebrity with best pal Dec, but behind the scenes he has been coming to terms with a new diagnosis that changed his life

Ant McPartlin has opened up about the medical diagnosis that has “changed his life”.

The star is back on our screens once again as he hosts I’m A Celebrity on ITV together with best friend Declan Donnelly. However, while he may be all smiles now, Ant McPartlin was diagnosed with a medical condition that has completely shifted his view on the world.

After years of struggles, the star was confirmed by medical professionals to have attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The presenter, who recently celebrated his 49th birthday, said the diagnosis helped a lot of things click for him, adding the world made much more sense.

Speaking to The Sun at the time of his revelation, Ant explained: “I’ve got ADHD and I don’t mind talking about that. I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn’t addressed for years.”

Ant has been opening up about his ADHD as he returns to our screens for I’m A Celebrity (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The Geordie lad, who first shot to fame on Byker Grove in the 1980s, said that the condition had caused him to think back to previous moments in his life. He then realised how much the disorder was unknowingly causing issues for his career, as well as in his personal life.

“In my job, having what they call ‘popcorn thinking’ is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another,” he added. “Professionally, it’s brilliant; personally, I’m all over the place.”

His diagnosis for ADHD came after a series of events that left Ant on the edge of losing his career. In 2018, Ant was arrested for drink-driving, but looking back at his life, Ant insisted that the neurological condition is heavily connected to dependency – in particular, with alcohol.

The presenter said it has completely changed his life and made sense of the world around him (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
As a result, Ant is now one of a number of other high profile celebs that have spoken out about their neurodivergence. Among the famous faces who have gone public with their own diagnoses include singer Lily Allen, showbiz legend Katie Price and current I’m A Celeb champ Sam Thompson.

ADHD is fast becoming one of the most visible forms of neurodivergence in the UK, with requests for diagnoses skyrocketing in recent years. Symptoms can include ant fidgeting, impulsiveness, an inability to deal with stress and difficulty with organising tasks; though research is continuing to find other forms of the condition.

It comes as he continues to have a laugh with best pal Dec for ITV viewers (Image: ITV)
It comes after Ant and Dec have gotten stuck in with fans to reveal some clips were unable to be shared due to their X-rated nature. On an Instagram livestream after the show, Ant and Dec confirmed a number of jokes directed at Danny Jones were left on the cutting room floor because of their saucy connotations.

During a trial on Sunday’s launch episode (November 17), McFly star Danny was left screaming as a snake crawled into his shorts. Hosts Ant and Dec had a laugh, dropping a number of lewd jokes after the trial, but did not reveal any, joking they would be “banned from Instagram” if they said them.