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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to think he’ll struggle coming back from this (Ant)

999 replies

Fruitbat1980 · 18/03/2018 23:17

What a stupid boy. Worth 60 million and doesn’t get a taxi. I just don’t know how he’ll come back from this latest fiasco (drink drive car crash hits 3 year old).

OP posts:
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5
Bluelady · 19/03/2018 13:51

The law in this country is quite clear that a person is innocent until proved guilty. It's not nonsense. It's the way our legal system works. If you don't like it move to France where the reverse is true.

SoupDragon · 19/03/2018 13:52

One thing I find odd is that his mother was in the car - surely no one would let their son drive visibly drunk?

JaneEyre70 · 19/03/2018 13:54

Looking at the photos, it looks like a fairly nasty head on. And not only did he hit one car, he hit a second. I've got a Mini Cooper S and the brakes are razor sharp - I've nearly given myself whiplash on several occasions.

And shame on ITV for not reporting it today.

JaneyEJones · 19/03/2018 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kierenthecommunity · 19/03/2018 13:59

Could he have been agitated because he believed he didn't cause the crash but was being breathalysed on the street after his recent troubles

I expect all three drivers were breathalysed, he wouldn’t have been singled out.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 19/03/2018 13:59

I think he's got some serious issues that clearly aren't resolved yet. We also don't know the full story but...if he was drink driving I struggle to have sympathy. He could hire a driver for the day, get a taxi etc. He has options that arent available to others and even if he didn't, there's never an excuse to drink and drive. If my dh has had a drink on a Saturday, anything over three drinks he won't drive the Sunday, not worth the risk

NewYearNewMe18 · 19/03/2018 14:00

washing fortunately I don't care what an anonymous harpie from the internet thinks. Grin But if I rankle you then, I must say, it's giving me great pleasure that I'm getting up your nose - so please keep on with the personal attacks if it gets you through the day, hun.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 19/03/2018 14:04

He has options that arent available to others

Anyone who can afford enough alcohol to fail a roadside breathtest can afford an Uber in South London on a Sunday afternoon.

BrendasUmbrella · 19/03/2018 14:11

One thing I find odd is that his mother was in the car - surely no one would let their son drive visibly drunk

His public image is just a public image. Would "cheeky chappy Ant" be belligerent to a police officer? Of course not. But Anthony McPartlin evidently would. His Mum was probably just trying to help as much as she can, but he's a grown man with addiction issues and quite possibly a mean streak too. There's only so much she can do, especially when we take into account that he also has a management team behind him who are concerned with PR over and above anything else, including his/others safety.

MissEliza · 19/03/2018 14:13

Rachel I agree it's disgusting how many people are trying to find ways to defend him. As you said, it's trashy.

Rudgie47 · 19/03/2018 14:15

Not only was it bad to drink and drive but when he got out of the car he started screaming and shouting at his Mum!
He sounds an absolute tool, I feel sorry for the other one because he'll have to make some plans as well. Their gravy train is ending.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 19/03/2018 14:16

I'm surprised he hasn't been charged with anything if he has failed a breath test. If he failed the second test at the police station wouldn't charging usually follow or would they want to piece together the exact details of the accident to work out what to charge him with?

Izzabellasasperella · 19/03/2018 14:17

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ManicUnicorn · 19/03/2018 14:22

I haven't read the whole thread, but it a was fairly open secret that the pain killer addiction and knee injury were just a smokescreen for something harder. He's clearly very unwell. I'm a big fan of A&D, and genuinely wished him well but I don't see how he's going to come back from this anytime soon?

I said in the other thread that to think he came back to television far too soon and should have taken some time out of the spotlight, as it is he rushed back after a short stint in rehab and there's no way on earth anyone can recover that quickly. No doubt there was pressure from ITV and maybe even his management to do so, but he needed serious professional help and some time for self care and to sort his shit out.

expatinscotland · 19/03/2018 14:22

I've always suspected he has Wee Man Syndrome Grin. Can't believe people are defending him.

JaneyEJones · 19/03/2018 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 19/03/2018 14:24

I feel sorry for the other one because he'll have to make some plans as well

To slightly misquote, could he live through the pain on a terrace in Spain? Would it pass? It would pass.

They're reach beyond the dreams of avarice. They'll cope.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 19/03/2018 14:27

reach

rich.

Shinycat · 19/03/2018 14:31

Agree. He will struggle to come back from this. And it will affect Dec too.

The Ant & Dec machine is having issues (and has been for a while because of Ant,) and I reckon that it won't be long before ITV start distancing themselves from him. Cue I'm a celeb being cancelled. I mean, Saturday Night Takeaway is unlikely to go ahead this weekend.

I have no sympathy for drink-drivers, but I feel a bit for Ant, as he is 100% in the public eye, and has already had issues with his dead marriage, his wife trying to take him for everything, and an addiction to painkillers.

Also, no-one has been badly hurt - thank GOD.

But they could have been. So he needs to have the same punishment as anyone else, which should be a 2-3 year driving ban and a £5K or so fine. He should not go to prison.

I was only saying to my husband the other day, that Ant & Dec need to get off TV for a couple of years; to give themselves a break, AND the public too. I like them, but I do get a bit tired of seeing them sometimes, and the Saturday Night takeaway has had its day IMO. I find it cheesy and a bit boring, and cannot STAND Scarlett.

Ant and Dec have a super squeaky-clean image, so I do think all this is doing their image no favours. I hope they are both OK, (and their career too,) but all this does not bode well.

RachelTeeth · 19/03/2018 14:31

All the people defending drink drivers must be totally fine with the idea/risk of one ploughing into their car/kid/property then, by their own logic.

‘Innocent until proven guilty’ is not relevant in cases of drink drivers, as the traffic cop posted upthread, the drunk IS the evidence, they don’t need to have a trial to assess whether or not the drunkard was drunk, they proved it themselves when breathalysed. The court aspect is to decide whether to ban/jail/let loose the drunk driver. HTH.

clumsyduck · 19/03/2018 14:31

Actually no drink driving is basically guilty ( with a failed breath test ) untill proven innocent. IE you fail the breath test ( custodial one or blood sample ) you are guilty . You will get banned. A solicitor may be helpful in a situation were there could be some mitigating factors wereby youl get the minimum ban etc . Which is 12 months .

DearMrDilkington · 19/03/2018 14:34

I've seen a post online with a photo of him returning home around 2am this morning. I thought he'd have been kept longer than that if he was drunk, usually the police hold someone until they sober up to interview them.

Not sure how legit it is though.

AlmostDoneWithThis · 19/03/2018 14:35

Who has defended drink driving?

Pedallleur · 19/03/2018 14:42

he is rich, lawyered up and sorry!. He will go to rehab, appear on a chat show/celeb magazine(s) and tell us about his addiction hell. His mate will be there for him. Are they popular? If yes, the TV company and his agent will do their best to keep him. No-one died/was abused. Off to The Priory or some place abroad then back on your TV looking tanned and chipper.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 19/03/2018 14:43

I thought he'd have been kept longer than that

There's no need. They can interview him about the accident whenever, they've already got the samples they need, he is not a flight risk, he is not a serious immediate re-offending risk. I would presume they have extracted fairly strong assurances of not driving. It is not a difficult case. Either he blew positive, in which case he'll be banned, or he didn't, in which case there's a possible due care and attention (or maybe dangerous driving, but it's unlikely) case to be discussed with the CPS at some point. The damage is all the insurance companies' problem, and unless he's inviting career suicide he'll make sure it's all paid as quickly as possible.