Ant McPartlin made an emotional return to screens when he was reduced to tears by a primary school child Britain's Got Talent on Saturday night.

The presenter, who has been absent from TV following a drink-driving conviction last year, cried after a performance by Lancashire's Flakefleet Primary School of children aged between five and 11.

The new series of Britain's Got Talent kicks off on Saturday night at 9.30pm

The first episode of the new series of Britain's Got Talent saw McPartlin welcome the children - dressed in an array of costumes including firemen, space rockets, rabbits and dinosaurs - onto the stage to sing Don't Stop Me Now by Queen.

McPartlin fought back tears after a little girl gave him a hug and cried: "I’ve missed you."

He lifted up Emily, 5, and told her: "I missed you too – love you lots."

Viewers commented on the moment:

Viewers were welcomed back by McPartlin and Donnelly in a skit seeing them jump into a taxi to the London Palladium, with McPartlin quipping: "Right, let's get on with the show."

Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams will also return to judge the variety acts at the London Palladium and The Lowry in Manchester.

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Britain's Got Talent kicks will be back on screens on Virgin Media One at 9.30pm and ITV at 7.15pm next Saturday.