EXCLUSIVE: Exciting new details of SM:TV Live ‘reunion’ episode revealed

This calls for a celebratory game of Wonkey Donkey

SM:TV Live presenters Cat Deeley, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly

by Carl Smith |
Updated on

When it comes to Saturday morning telly, they don't make 'em like they used to. Don't get us wrong, we're a bit more BBC Breakfast now; but how we long for the days of Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly and Cat Deeley pissing about on SM Live.

Wonkey Donkey? Iconic. Chums? Incomparable. Challenge Ant? The stuff of legend.

So obviously we're well chuffed SM 's set to return for a big 'reunion' special later this year; with show linchpins Steps revealing they're set to join the fun.

(Well, band members Claire Richards and Ian 'H' Watkins, to be precise.)

Ant McPartlin, Cat Deeley and Declan Donnelly on SM:TV Live
©Getty

The pair - who enjoyed a stint hosting the show alongside Tess Daly back in the day - revealed they're involved in the 'documentary' and told us what we can expect.

Sitting down with heatworld for a chinwag about Steps' new single What the Future Holds, Claire confirmed, "It's not a reunion, it's a documentary. It's not an actual SM show; I think people think they're going to recreate it."

H added, "It's more of a 'we love SM ' thing; a trip down memory lane.

"We presented it briefly, so they basically had all the presenters back. It was us, Ant and Dec and co.

"That show was the perfect match for us. It was perfect hangover TV and we never took ourselves too seriously.

"And we were always hungover," quipped bandmate Lisa Scott-Lee.

Ah, we can imagine the stories.

Byker Grove cast: where are they now?

Gallery

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?1 of 16
CREDIT: antanddec.com

Ant & Dec (PJ & Duncan) then

Appearing in the show between 1989 and 1992, PJ and Duncan were the cool kids of Byker Grove. Seriously, who else could rock so many block primary colours at once?

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CREDIT: Shutterstock

Ant & Dec (PJ & Duncan) now

It's safe to say the boys - now more commonly known as Ant and Dec - have done alright for themselves. In the early '90s they nabbed themselves a record deal and released the absolute TUNE that is Let's Get Ready to Rhumble. Since then they've picked up a record 17 Best TV Presenter NTAs for their services to everything from SM Live to *I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! *In fact, we'd say ITV game show Red or Black might be their only minor blip on an otherwise-flawless CV.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?3 of 16
CREDIT: BBC

Denise Welch (Polly) then

Denise starred as Polly on the show between 1990 and 1991 in a short seven-episode stint.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?4 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Denise Welch (Polly) now

Making her mark on the telly world, Denise has since appeared as Natalie Horrocks in Coronation Street, lent her services to the Loose Women panel and was a contestant on the sixth series of* Dancing on Ice* alongside professional partner Matt Evers. Oh, and she won the ninth series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?5 of 16
CREDIT: BBC

Donna Air (Charlie Charlton) then

Playing Charlie Charlton, Donna was just ten years old when she joined the Byker Grove cast in 1992.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?6 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Donna Air (Charlie Charlton) now

Donna went on to become a presenter, most notably on MTV, TFI Friday and Popstars: The Rivals Extra. She's also appeared in Hollyoaks, blockbuster movie The Mummy Returns and most recently competed on the tenth series of Dancing on Ice.

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CREDIT: Shutterstock

Charlie Hunnam (Jason) then

Yup, actual-Hollywood-actor-type Charlie Hunnam made a brief appearance on Byker Grove as Jason back in '98. WHO KNEW?

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?8 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Charlie Hunnam (Jason) now

Another huge success story, Charlie's since become so in demand he PULLED OUT (no pun intended) of playing Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey; with the role then going to Jamie Dornan. Most recently, Charlie appeared in Guy Ritchie's Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur as actual King Arthur himself.

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CREDIT: BBC

Jill Halfpenny (Nicola Dobson) then

Jill served absolute '90s scrunchie goals as she played the role of Nicola Dobson from 1989-1992.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?10 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Jill Halfpenny (Nicola Dobson) now

Still very much on the scene, Jill went on to win the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing and appear in everything from Waterloo Road to Wild at Heart.

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CREDIT: YouTube/BBC

Andrew Hayden-Smith (Ben Carter) then

We're not gonna lie, we had the biggest crush on Ben Carter from 1995 right the way through to 2003. Then he got killed off and we cried for a week straight. It was a difficult time.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?12 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Andrew Hayden-Smith (Ben Carter) now

Andrew healed our then-broken hearts as he was reincarnated as a CBBC presenter in the mid-noughties, more recently appearing in *Doctor Who *and Channel 4 dramas Cucumber and Banana.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?13 of 16
CREDIT: BBC

Billy Fane (Geoff) then

Ah, youth club leader Geoff. An absolute Byker veteran from 1989-1999, he was brutally killed of in a gas explosion. The scene's still ingrained on our brains and we...can't talk about it.

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CREDIT: ITV

Billy Fane (Geoff) now

After Ant and Dec returned to the show for his funeral episode in 1999, Billy made an appearance on Saturday Night Takeaway back in 2014. He also achieved a masters degree in special needs education in 2006.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?15 of 16
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Point Break then

Remember floppy-haired '90s boyband Point Break? No? Well, um, it was made up of Byker Grove actors Brett Adams and David 'Ollie' Oliver and their pal Declan Bennett. We'd highly recommend their top 40 smash single Freaky Time.

Byker Grove cast: Where are they now?16 of 16
CREDIT: BBC

Point Break now

We're cheating here slightly, but said pal Declan's since been cast as Charlie Cotton in EastEnders. Bit of a tenuous link, but interesting nonetheless.

This all comes after Dec recently confirmed the new episode's in the bag.

Speaking on Zoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 show, he said: "There’s definitely an SM reunion.

"We’ve filmed a show looking back at the story of SM and how it came about. That’s going to be on later in the year. We’ve recorded that already."

Chatting about the 20th anniversary plans back in April, Cat told the Daily Star, "It was so much fun. Phillip Schofield once said to us, 'You must remember how much fun it is while you’re doing it.'

"You never feel it at the time, because it’s live, and you feel a bit of the pressure of it but looking back on it, I think it’s the most fun we’ve ever had."

Steps
©Getty

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Meanwhile, Steps are busy planning their 2021 What the Future Holds tour which - let's face it - is much-needed given current events.

"2021 is the year of the party," said Lisa, with Claire chipping in, "With new material there’s scope to do more. We already know what our stage looks like and it’s different. We’re already excited.

"We’re so privileged because we have such an incredible back catalogue," H added. "It’s going to be hit after hit."

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