A QUESTION that has been on many fans lips over the years is – are Ant and Dec related?
With their pint-sized features and their shared sense of humour, they often get mistaken for being brothers – we take a look at whether the pair really are family…
Are Ant and Dec related?
Ant and Dec found out that they ARE related in their ITV DNA Journey show as the TV duo share the same DNA with a link through the bloodlines of their dads.
The Geordie presenting duo discovered they have the same S660 marker which was recently found in a Viking-age warrior’s skeleton in Dublin who died in 790AD at the age of 20-years-old.
The skeleton is the first ever found to contain the S660 marker.
What have Ant and Dec said about being related?
Speaking about the remarkable discovery, Ant said:“That’s brilliant. That’s amazing. That’s remarkable.”
Dec just blurted out: “Oh my God.”
He added: “That wasn’t, ‘Oh my God that’s terrible news’, that was, ‘Oh my God that’s a big surprise’.”
Reflecting on the finding further, Ant mused: “We’re friends, we’ve got that brotherly connection.
“But it feels even deeper. Doing this show has made us look at each other in a different way.
“We respect each other more.”
What have fans said about Ant and Dec being related?
The emotional discovery moved viewers to tears, with one saying: “#DNAJourney has been a brilliant few hours of television. I’ve laughed, cried and screamed in amazement at how it ended! Such a great show.”
Another added: “I’m not crying, you are… #DNAjourney.”
Someone else said: “Great TV show, I’ve fallen in love with @antanddec all over again! their bond is unreal #DNAjourney #truefriendship.”
Another fan said: “Aw that would bring a tear to a glass eye #DNAjourney
How did Declan Donnelly meet Ant McPartlin?
The pair first met on the children’s television show, Byker Grove in 1990.
They played PJ (Ant) and Duncan (Dec) – Dec was on the show from 1989 and Ant joined in 1990.
Their friendship began when they shared storylines on the show, creating a bond off-screen as well as on.
The duo then went on to launch a pop career in 1994, known as PJ & Duncan – their characters on Byker Grove.
Having become real-life best friends, their on-screen chemistry proved a winner and they moved into comedy presenting and the rest is history.