Car crash interrupts BBC coverage of Ant McPartlin drink-drive court hearing

Chloe Chaplain16 April 2018

BBC coverage of Ant McPartlin’s drink-driving court hearing was interrupted after a car crash happened live on air.

The reporter was discussing the TV star’s appearance, presenting from outside the front of Wimbledon Magistrate's Court.

She was mid-way through discussing the case when a black car was seen in the background driving into a white van, forcing her to falter and turn around in shock.

“Sorry just some cars have had a bit of a crash behind us,” she said to the camera, looking surprised.

She turned around again, stumbling on her words slightly, before continuing with her broadcast.

The awkward incident happened during the coverage of the Saturday Night Takeaway presenter’s hearing after he was charged with drink-driving.

The 42-year-old had been behind the wheel of a car when it collided with two other cars in Richmond on March 18.

PA

He pleaded guilty and was fined £86,000. He was also banned from driving for 20 months after the court heard he had been more than twice the legal limit.

The court heard that McPartlin had been seeking help for "alcohol and emotional issues" at the time of the crash.

Prosecutor Katie Sinnett-Jones told Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Monday that the incident happened at around 3.50pm when McPartlin drove his Mini around a "sharp bend and lost control" then ended up on the wrong side of the road.

He collided with another Mini Cooper before driving "straight into the front of an oncoming car".

McPartlin's vehicle "came to a halt and was no longer driveable due to the damage caused", Ms Sinnett-Jones said. Members of the public called the police.

The court heard that the driver of the other Mini said afterwards he thought he and his family were going to die in the collision.

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