Britain's Got Talent hosts Ant & Dec secretly auditioned for the show dressed as DJ-ing dogs

They finally reunited earlier this year after his drink-drive arrest.

And, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly reportedly left Britain’s Got Talent judges in stitches, after secretly auditioning for this year’s talent show dressed as dogs as part of a DJ act with spin-off show presenter Stephen Mulhern.

The BGT hosts, both 43, and Stephen, 42, donned elaborate dog costumes and took to the stage without the judges – Simon Cowell, 59, Amanda Holden, 48, Alesha Dixon, 40, or David Walliams, 47 – knowing their true identities.

Back at it: Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly reportedly secretly auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent dressed as dogs as part of a DJ act with spin-off show presenter Stephen Mulhern

Producers were in on the prank, but the show’s unsuspecting judging panel and the audience in Salford, Greater Manchester, were left in the dark until the big reveal.

At the end of the performance, Ant, Dec and Stephen stripped off their outfits to surprise the crowd and panel with their true identities.

A source told The Sun: ‘Everyone was spent having watched loads of auditions but Ant and Dec thought it would be a good way to finish things off.

‘The boys and Stephen had dog outfits made especially and performed a DJ set which went down a treat with the crowd despite no one having a clue who they were.

Mischievous: The BGT presenters donned elaborate dog costumes and took to the stage in disguise in a bid to prank the judging panel

In the dark: Judges – Simon Cowell, 59, Amanda Holden, 48, Alesha Dixon, 40, and David Walliams, 47 – were completely unaware of their true identities

Sneaky: A source told The Sun: ‘Everyone was spent having watched loads of auditions but Ant and Dec thought it would be a good way to finish things off

‘The judges were in stitches when they stripped off at the end.’ 

The auditions are generally shrouded in secrecy, and therefore, no photographs of the doggy prank have yet surfaced. 

MailOnline has contacted Britain’s Got Talent for comment. 

Ant recently made a triumphant return to Britain’s Got Talent after taking a year-long hiatus. 

It’s been a difficult few months for the presenter who tackled his painkiller addiction in rehab, ended his marriage to Lisa and committed a drink-driving offence in 2018.   

Ant was twice over the legal drink-drive limit when he completed a breathalyser test following the collision, which led to him being £86,000 as well as being handed a 20 month driving ban in March 2018. 

Sneaky: ‘The boys and Stephen had dog outfits made especially and performed a DJ set which went down a treat with the crowd despite no one having a clue who they were’ said the source

Hilarious! ‘The judges were in stitches when they stripped off at the end’ continued the source

Return: The outing comes as Britain’s Got Talent fans were left elated when Ant returned to our screens as he reunited with his partner Dec Donnelly for Saturday night’s pre-recorded show

The funnyman took a year out from his presenting partnership with Dec to focus on seeking help to battle his demons. 

In August, it was revealed ITV hit show Saturday Night Takeaway presented by Ant and Dec pair since 2002 has been cancelled until 2020.

ITV were recently forced to deny claims that the show is set to be axed after 15 series and assured fans the hit programme would return to screens next year