Not only are they the much loved hosts of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Takeaway but Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have done everything from kids TV (SM
And now, ahead of Saturday Night Takeaway’s 16th series starting this weekend, the boys have revealed they’re keen to add another string to their bow and have been in “extensive talks” to launch their own sitcom.
Ant said, “We’ve talked about it quite seriously in the past. We’ve got quite close. We did a version of The Likely Lads, which we loved.
“And we loved the process of it — rehearsing it and doing it in front of a live studio audience.”
CHECK OUT: Ant and Dec's career from the start
Ant and Dec's career timeline (slider)
And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec as PJ and DuncanIn 1989 Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – PJ and Duncan was born.Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.
And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec became popstarsIt wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 Let's Get Ready to Rhumble.Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.
And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec hosted SMTV and CD
Ant & Dec: Primetime career
They hit the prime time with talent show Pop IdolThey presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which is about begin its 13th series.In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show.
Ant & Dec: Awards
Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment/TV Presenter for 15 years running. Most recently, at the 2018 NTAs, the duo won Best Presenter.
Ant & Dec: Relationships
In 2015 Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall and Ant was, of course, best man. And in July 2006, Dec acted as best man at Ant's wedding to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong. Ant and Lisa, however, filed for divorce this year after 11 years of marriage.
Ant & Dec: Friendship
Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.He said: "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine: "We made a pact. We said to each other, 'Look, whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and you're never in this life on your own or against the world – you've always got a mate looking out for you."Even though they work together, Ant & Dec make sure they go out together at least once a week – and even live three doors apart in London!Dec said: "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground."Ant added: "We love each other, definitely."
Ant & Dec: Britain's Got Talent
Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million.
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“You’ve got to get the idea right and make sure it’s the right thing at the right time. The other thing is finding time to do it with the three big shows we’ve got,” Dec added to The Sun.
Come on lads, surely you can squeeze it in somewhere?
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Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway returns on Saturday [22 February], with Ant rejoining Dec for hosting duties after two years away.
He took a break from presenting duties in 2018 and the show was rested in 2019 but this year’s series is set to be bigger and better than ever.
The pair released a hilarious video on Instagram last month to announce the show’s return.
Claiming that this year's series will be the "best ever", Ant and Dec starred in a hilarious can-can style video, which also features popular TV presenter Stephen Mulhern.
Alongside the video, the boys wrote, "Think we can make #SaturdayNightTakeaway the best ever?! We certainly can-can! 💃💃 On your telly this Feb @itvtakeaway @itv… oh, and @stephenmulhern 😉."
Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway returns on Saturday at 7pm on ITV.