Declan Donnelly has spoken about his joy at being reunited with best friend Ant McPartlin for jungle reality show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

McPartlin recently spent time in rehab for painkiller addiction which resulted in some time away from broadcasting.

The Geordie duo landed at Brisbane airport in Australia on Saturday and were all smiles despite a difficult few months.

Speaking for the first time since Ant's issues came into the public eye, Dec hinted at the stress of the situation by describing the last few months as a “long summer”.

However, he insisted the TV presenter pair were “raring to go” and that Ant was ready to wow his millions of fans on the ITV show.

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Dec said: “We’re really excited. We’ll have the same old shenanigans on I’m A Celebrity but with a few little added twists. We just can’t wait to get in and get going now.

“We’ve been waiting for ages, it’s been a long summer break so we can’t wait.”

Asked about his pal and their summer apart with Ant in rehab, Dec added: “I’m looking forward to spending more time with him, yeah.

“It’s brilliant to be back together, it’s perfect. Everything just slots back into place. We can’t wait and we are raring to go.”

The pair jetted into Brisbane before driving to a rented penthouse apartment close to the I’m A Celebrity camp in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.

They were joined on the trip by Dec’s wife Ali Astall, who is also the pair’s manager. Ant’s wife Lisa is busy back in London where she is head make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing.

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Over the weekend Lisa, 41, dismissed rumours suggesting that she and Ant were living separate lives, tweeting: “Haven’t been to Oz for 10 years. I have a job. I’m not estranged thank you. As you were.”

Ant, also 41, revealed his problems in August, saying at the time that he had been driven to drugs because of a painful knee injury. “I was at the point where anything - prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs - I would take.

“And take them with alcohol, which is ridiculous. The doctors told me, ‘You could have killed yourself’. ”

He and Dec normally spend the summer together relaxing on holiday and playing golf, once Saturday Night Takeaway ends in the spring. But this year they have been kept apart by Ant’s knee surgery and rehab sessions which have also seen him living away from the home he shares with Lisa.

Flanked by heavy security, Ant and Dec picked up groceries yesterday and began setting themselves up for their month-long stay.

Ant also spoke about his return, saying: “I’m excited to back, I can’t wait.

“I’m feeling great, the flight was all right, I had a lot of sleep and me and Dec had a good catch up. It’s going to be a good show.”

Normally the pair would also play golf several times a week while Down Under, but Dec said the golf could wait – for now.

The pair are thought to be particularly keen to make sure their opening few shows are as good as ever with some trademark gags, as they are aware all eyes will be on them.

Dec said: “We won’t play any golf this week, let’s get into the show first but we will get some out here, don’t worry about that.”

A source close to the pair told the Mirror : “Ant and Dec have been in the business now for more than 25 years and they know there will be a lot of scrutiny on the first few shows this year because of what Ant has been through.

“But they have always been total pros and are just keen to get going. It is a series which really shows off their brilliant jokes and their friendship. Dec has been a rock for Ant since he went public with his problems and he will be there for his friend if there are any last minute nerves.

“They will work harder than ever to make this series a great one.”

ITV bosses are hopeful that I'm A Celebrity will be as strong as usual after doctors gave Ant the all-clear to take part.

The series will kick off next weekend, a week later than last year, which ITV have insisted is nothing to do with Ant’s recent struggles.

But it does mean that he will be working most of next weekend when he celebrates his 42nd birthday as he and Dec concentrate on welcoming a new batch of contestants into camp.

In the summer Ant said he knew the game was up as he pleaded with his wife Lisa to get him to hospital after bingeing on tramadol, morphine and alcohol while recovering from a second knee operation in June.

He recalled: “It was five in the morning and I was screaming in pain so I rang Lisa.

“She was upstairs because I was living in the living room because I couldn’t get around.”

Asked if his doctor warned him of the risks, Ant admitted: “Yeah. And the warnings are on the packet. I didn’t take them as seriously as I should have.

“And I drank with them, which was stupid and very reckless.

“I didn’t think how dangerous they are.

“You just think you know best — I’m in more pain, I’ll just whack another one down. That’s the ­danger — self-medicating.”

I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! begins on Sunday on ITV at 9pm.