TV presenter Ant McPartlin told police he was “ashamed and mortified” after crashing his car while drink-driving with his mother in the passenger seat, a court heard yesterday. The 42-year-old was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £86,000 after pleading guilty to driving while more than twice the legal limit.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard McPartlin had been seeking help for “alcohol and emotional issues” at the time of the crash in Richmond, west London, on March 18. He hit another vehicle after losing control of his Mini.

The Saturday Night Takeaway host admitted driving with 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. Barrister Liam Walker said: “Anthony McPartlin is sorry and is doing everything he can to ensure this never happens again.”