ANT and Dec have been making us chuckle while presenting Britain’s biggest TV shows for over 25 years.
Here’s what you need to know about the much-loved presenting duo who’ve conquered British telly…
PA:Press Association
Who are Ant and Dec?
Ant is Anthony McPartlinand Dec is Declan Donnelly.
They both originate from Newcastle upon Tyne and are both 43-years-old.
They were each awarded an OBE in June 2016, in recognition of their services to broadcasting and entertainment.
Early in their careers, they decided to always stand in the same order – they call it the 180-degree rule, so that the public could work out who was who.
Ant is always on the left and Dec stands on the right.
It’s reported that they are each insured against the other’s death, with the amount reportedly being around £1,000,000.
They are inseparable and even live on the same street in Chiswick, West London.
Such is the extent of their close working relationship the pair just have the one joint Twitter account @antanddec.
Tcc – the Children’s Channel
How did Ant and Dec meet?
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.
Did Ant and Dec have a pop career?
After leaving Byker Grove, they launched a pop career in 1994, known as PJ & Duncan – their characters on Byker Grove.
Their music career didn’t last too long – their record label decided not to renew their contract in 1997.
Having become real-life best friends, their on-screen chemistry proved a winner and they moved into comedy presenting.
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How many Royal Television Society awards have Ant and Dec won?
Ant and Dec have won numerous awards over the years, including accolades from the Royal Television Society.
In 2000, they won Best Children’s Entertainment Programme for SMTV Live and the following year they received an RTS award for Best TV Presenters.
In 2018 they were nominated in the RTS awards for Best Entertainment (Saturday Night Takeaway) and Best Entertainment Performance (I’m A Celebrity).
The pair lost out on both gongs and skipped the ceremony due to Ant’s drink-driving arrest and return to rehab.
In the National Television Awards, they are the most successful recipients ever, having won 35 times!
They won three awards at the 2018 NTAs, for TV Presenter, Best Challenge Show (I’m A Celebrity) and the first Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award (Saturday Night Takeaway).
In 2019 they once again scooped the award for Best TV Presenter despite the fact that Ant had been off work while battling addiction for most of the year.
Ant admitted that he was “genuinely shocked” to have won again and praised Dec for his hard work.
What shows have Ant and Dec presented?
Ant and Dec have formed one of the most successful partnerships in TV, presenting many shows…
- The Ant & Dec show
- Ant & Dec unzipped
- SMTV Live
- Friends Like These
- Pop Idol
- Saturday Night Takeaway
- Britain’s Got Talent
- I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here
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What is Ant and Dec’s net worth?
Ant and Dec’s current net worth is estimated to be around £62million each.
The 2007 deal with ITV was rumoured to be worth around £40million and the deal in 2016 is said to be worth around £30million.
They are both property investors too – reportedly owning properties worth around £10million combined.
Are Ant and Dec married?
Dec married his manager, Ali Astall in 2015.
Ant officially divorced from Lisa Armstrong on October 16 on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour – a decree nisi was granted in less than 30 seconds.
The Sun first revealed that Ant was divorcing from his wife of 11 years on January 14, 2018.
Ant and Lisa have no children together, however, on March 24, The Sun on Sunday revealed Dec and Ali were expecting their first child.
On September 1, 2018, the couple announced their daughter had arrived.
Did Ant and Dec fall out?
Dec admitted he wanted to “punch and hug” Ant when he heard he had been arrested for drink-driving.
The Geordie duo have worked together for almost 30 years but angry Dec said last year’s scandal almost caused them to split up.
Speaking in a candid interview with Guardian’s Weekend magazine today Dec, 43, said: “It felt like a nightmare, that there’d been a mistake. ‘Of course he didn’t do that.’”
But the following day Ant told him it was all true. “We had a heart-to-heart. I said, ‘Look, forget everything – TV, the partnership – you’ve just got to go and get well.’ I think I said I’d give everything up if he could just be happy again.” His voice falters, before he pulls himself together.
Then he got angry. “How could he do that? I wanted to punch him and hug him at the same time – and I didn’t know which one I wanted to do first.”
The toll of the arrest and subsequent conviction took it’s toll on their friendship and their future career, and they have now admitted that they “considered splitting up”.
“For the first time in many years, all we talked about were deep things like how we felt, and what the future held, and where we were, and all the chaos that has come along, especially for me,” McPartlin told the magazine.
