Britain's Got Talent: Declan Donnelly to host live shows without Ant McPartlin

ITV has confirmed that Declan Donnelly will host the live shows of Britain's Got Talent without long-time presenting partner Ant McPartlin.

McPartlin will return for the audition episodes of the new series, which were filmed in January, before Dec heads up the live semi-finals and final which are expected to be screened nightly across one week towards the end of May.

The talent show's 12th series begins this Saturday (14 April). ITV released a statement saying: “We send Ant all our love. And we know that Dec will do a brilliant job.”

McPartlin stepped down from his TV commitments “for the foreseeable future” after being charged with a drink driving offence last month following a collision. He is due to appear in court on 16 April.

His arrest came towards the end of the current run of popular entertainment series Saturday Night Takeaway. Despite the cancellation of one episode, Donnelly presented the final two instalments alone, his success earning him a standing ovation from the audience whom he led in applauding McPartlin.

Last year, McPartlin entered rehab after struggling with an addiction to painkillers following a knee operation in 2015. He split with his wife of 11 years in January.

Britain's Got Talent - one of ITV's most successful series - will return with a judging panel of Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon Amanda Holden and David Walliams.

Past contestants include Susan Boyle, George Sampson and Diversity.

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