Sir Elton John helped I’m A Celebrity co-host Ant McPartlin stay sober after they became pals.
Footie-mad Ant, 45, and TV wingman Declan Donnelly, 46, were VIP guests of the pop legend as their beloved Newcastle United took on his club Watford in September.
And Elton regularly called to give “fatherly advice” to Ant, who battled addiction after his drink-drive car smash in 2018.
A source said: “Elton invited Ant and Dec to the game.
“They were given his VIP seats. He has been very supportive of Ant and given advice on dealing with addiction.
Obviously, Elton has been sober for many years now and is a lot older than Ant, so can offer fatherly advice. He knows how tough it can be to kick the habit.”
(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
The I’m A Celeb presenters saw Newcastle come back from 1-0 down to grab a point and posed for photos with Watford icon Luther Blissett, 63.
Ant is understood to have appreciated Elton’s help. His wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 44, who he tied the knot with in August, is also teetotal.
(Image: Getty Images)
It is not the first time Elton, 74, has helped someone with sobriety. He also reached out to Robbie Williams, 47, and called Ed Sheeran, 30, in lockdown to check he was OK.
In 2020, Elton celebrated 30 years of sobriety as he posted a celebration on Twitter and shared his concerns on where he would be if he hadn’t asked for help.
(Image: PYMCA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He wrote at the time: “If I hadn’t finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I’d be dead. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way.”
He shared a series of snaps alongside the tweet including cards, flowers and chips from his sons, friends in the program, his husband any many others.
Elton has been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse since getting sober in 1990.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
