It's been a turbulent year for Ant McPartlin but at least he can rest assured that his job at ITV is waiting for him when he is ready.

McPartlin's recent struggles with addiction led to a car accident earlier in the year which saw him fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to being twice the legal drink drive limit.

Ant said at the time: "I just want to say I'm truly sorry for what happened. Higher standards are expected of me – I expect them of myself."

While his broadcasting partner Declan Donnelly has been continuing to host without Ant, and doing a great job, ITV have confirmed that they will still be welcoming McPartlin back but "clearly he won't come back a moment too soon."

Speaking to ITV News, the channel's Chief Executive Carolyn McCall said: "He will come back when he's well and when he is ready to come back.

"ITV will not be putting him under any pressure to come back unless he's well and fit enough to come back."

When asked again if Ant is planning to return to ITV, she replied: "As far as I know, that is true."

It has yet to be seen if Ant will return on time to co-host this year's 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'.