Declan Donnelly

TV presenter Ant McPartlin shares the real reason he won’t be returning to host a major show

Anthony McPartlin has opened up on the one show he’s done with hosting as he admitted it can get too hard to control the crowd.

The TV star is well known for presenting a number of shows alongside hosting partner Declan Donnelly and among the many is the iconic BRIT Awards.

The duo have fronted the prestigious music ceremony on three occasions and Ant, 50, has since revealed the evening proves enjoyable for those up for gongs and their plus ones, but can be tricky for those presenting. Ant and Dec hosted the BRITs in 2001, 2015 and 2016.

During their podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, the duo seemed genuinely thankful they won’t be taking the reins at this weekend’s ceremony.

Ant stated: “[We’ve hosted it] three times, never again. And the reason why we always say, ‘oh, never again’, it’s not because we don’t believe in the awards. I really do. I think they’re really good for British music.

“It’s actually a really good night if you’re there as somebody who’s been nominated, because we’ve been nominated for a BRIT back in the day. That was a fun night. We didn’t win that night.”

The duo first crossed paths as young performers on CBBC drama Byker Grove, later pursuing pop stardom as PJ & Duncan, notably with their chart success Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble, which debuted in 1994.

In 1995, they competed for the BRIT award for best British newcomer but were beaten by the legendary Oasis.

Ant explained: “It’s a fun night if you’re nominated, it’s a fun night – not necessarily if you’re hosting it though because everybody in the room just wants to get drunk and have a good time and you’re trying to wrangle the whole crowd.

“You are also trying to present a TV show and also all the artists and bands who said they would happily do an interview with you before the show starts always change their mind.”

The Geordie presenting pair are renowned for fronting ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and the quiz show Ant And Dec’s Limitless Win.

Comic Jack Whitehall will take the helm at the BRIT Awards on Saturday in Manchester.

Chart-topper Harry Styles features amongst the impressive line-up of performers set to grace the stage during the ceremony, alongside Raye, Olivia Dean, Sombr, Mark Ronson and Wolf Alice.

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Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has been open about her feelings towards Phillip Schofield in recent years, following the pair’s reported fallout in 2018

Amanda Holden has taken a fresh swipe at Phillip Schofield after his name was mentioned live on air on Tuesday. The 56-year-old and her Heart Radio co-host Jamie Theakston were joined by Jack Whitehall ahead of his hosting duties at The Brit Awards this weekend.

During the discussion, Amanda was keen to know what Jack was wearing for the gig, to which he confirmed it would be a suit. Pressed further on whether he would opt for a “snappy pair of socks” like his dad, he joked: “I’m not going to go too jazzy with the socks, you never want to be upstaged by a sock.”

Turning to her co-star following the response, she said: “Well, Jamie, I rest my case.”

Puzzled by her comment, her co-star asked: “What are you talking about? Children’s television? That wasn’t me, that was Phillip Schofield.”

After instantly hearing his name, Amanda didn’t hold back from taking a swipe at her former This Morning co-star. She said with a laugh: “Oh god, please, let’s not mention that name on air, it’s a family show!”

The pair fronted This Morning together for a brief period while Holly Willoughby was on maternity leave in 2014.

Four years later, reports claimed that Phillip had ruined her chances to co-host with him again, as Holly fronted I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Declan Donnelly.

A former daytime TV executive previously told The Sun that Phillip “actively campaigned” for Rochelle Humes to get the job instead.

However, an ITV spokesperson later denied the reports, stating that presenter decisions are only made by producers.

Phillip also addressed the rumours on social media, branding them “hurtful and wildly untrue”.

While Amanda didn’t comment directly on the reports, she has made no secret of her true thoughts toward him over the years.

During a playful game on Heart Radio about three things she didn’t want to find in her home, she quipped in 2019: “Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield.”

Later, she revealed she had reached out to him for a heart-to-heart over coffee but claimed he didn’t respond.

Quizzed about her former co-star on Heart, Amanda confessed: “I did offer to meet him for a coffee months ago, he didn’t reply to my text. What can I say?”

Jamie added: “The olive branch had been extended,” to which she replied: “Oh, yes.”

The presenter has also previously appeared to take a swipe at Phillip’s former co-star Holly.

Discussing reports about her and Paul C. Brunson’s show Unfinished Business being commissioned for a second series, Amanda was asked if they were true.

“Well, yesterday I read in the paper that we are doing another series, but I don’t know for sure,” she confessed.

Cheekily stirring things up, he replied: “What are they suggesting, they getting Holly Willoughby?”

Caught off guard, Amanda responded: “I… what?!”, followed with a laugh and the comment: “No, they want a proper presenter.”

Jamie replied: “You’re going to get in trouble for that!”, to which Amanda said playfully: “No one’s listening.”