The History Boys

Ant and Dec make emotional discoveries as they explore their family trees

Over the years we’ve grown used to seeing Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in the I’m a Celebrity jungle, hosting Britain’s Got Talent, and pulling pranks in the Saturday Night Takeaway studio.

But this week, ITV’s fascinating and moving documentary, Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey, offers a fresh and poignant take on the deep friendship that has been the cornerstone of their careers.

The powerful two-parter lifts the lid on their remarkable family backgrounds, as the pair travel across the UK, Ireland and America on a quest to investigate their roots. Along the way, historians unearth surprising stories about their ancestors by examining their DNA, and help them trace unknown living relatives.