Ant and Dec's rise to TELLY DOMINATION

As they continue to entertain us on Saturday Night Takeaway, Woman looks at Ant and Dec’s rise to the top of their game

- ANNA MATHESON

With their cheeky humour, infectious laughter and penchant for winding up fellow celebs, Ant McPartlin and Declan  Donnelly, both 47, have been ensuring that Saturday Night Takeaway remains the highlight of our weekend for the past few weeks. But it’s been a long road to success, with a few bumps along the way.

Humble beginnings

While they were born in 1975 and lived not far apart in Newcastle, the pair didn’t know each other as children and went to different schools. Dec’s parents managed Tyneside Irish Centre where the youngster would spend time with his six siblings, and Ant lived with his family in Fenham, across the street from his grandparents.

Blossoming friendship

The pair met on the set of children’s drama Byker Grove. Dec bagged the part of Duncan in 1989, while Ant joined as PJ a year later. Ant said their friendship was cemented in 1990, when Dec asked if he wanted to go to a football match. ‘And that was that,’ Ant said. ‘We clicked. We’d spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone.’

Children’s telly

Written out of the soap in 1992, the pair vowed to stick together. Dec explained, ‘We made a pact. We said to each other, “Look, whatever happens, I’ll always be there for you and you’re never in this life on your own or against the world – you’ve always got a mate looking out for you.’” In 1994, they became co-presenters on CITV’s Gimme 5, before landing their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show on CBBC.

Pop career