Ant McPartlin, star of “Saturday Night Takeaway,” has revealed that he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of 43, despite having suffered from the condition his entire life.
McPartlin, a beloved TV host, discovered his condition after taking a break from work between 2018 and 2019. The diagnosis came following a turbulent period, which included his arrest for drink driving in 2018 after crashing into two vehicles while intoxicated.
At the time of the incident, McPartlin was found to have more than double the legal alcohol limit in his system. One of the victims later testified in court, saying, “We believed we could have died.” McPartlin was fined £86,000, had to cancel two television roles, and experienced a fallout with his long-time colleague, Declan Donnelly.
While in rehab, McPartlin’s diagnosis of ADHD brought clarity to many aspects of his life. “It made sense,” he said, noting the links between ADHD and alcohol dependency. He went public with his diagnosis in a 2019 interview with The Sun, where he candidly discussed the impact of the condition on his life and career.
“I’ve got ADHD. I don’t mind talking about that,” McPartlin shared. “I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn’t addressed for years.” He expressed empathy for others struggling with ADHD, acknowledging the challenges it poses in personal relationships while also highlighting its benefits in his professional life.
“In my job, having what they call ‘popcorn thinking’ is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another. Professionally it’s brilliant. Personally I’m all over the place,” he explained.
According to a study published in BMC Psychiatry, around 24 percent of male adults in UK prisons have a history of ADHD or ADHD symptoms. The organisation CHADD also notes that ADHD can lead to significant interpersonal issues, including social difficulties, rejection, and relationship problems due to inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
McPartlin joins a list of other celebrities who have publicly shared their ADHD diagnoses, including “I’m A Celeb” winner Sam Thompson, Lily Allen, Sheridan Smith, and Katie Price.