Ant McPartlin shares HILARIOUS picture to celebrate Dec Donnelly's birthday

Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million.

Ant & Dec as PJ and Duncan


In 1989 Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – PJ and Duncan was born.


Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.

Ant & Dec became popstars


It wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 Let's Get Ready to Rhumble.


Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.

Ant & Dec hosted SMTV and CD:UK with Cat Deeley


This kicked off their kids' TV careers, and landed them their first BAFTA Awards.


After various other presenting gigs, Ant & Dec started hosting ITV's Saturday morning shows SMTV and CD:UK, alongside Cat Deeley, in 1998.


But, in 2001, they made the move from Saturday morning to prime time – for a little show called Pop Idol…

They hit the prime time with talent show Pop Idol


They presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.


This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which is about begin its 13th series.


In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show.

Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment/TV Presenter for 15 years running. Most recently, at the 2018 NTAs, the duo won Best Presenter.

In 2015 Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall and Ant was, of course, best man. And in July 2006, Dec acted as best man at Ant's wedding to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong.

Ant and Lisa, however, filed for divorce this year after 11 years of marriage.

Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.


He said: "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."


When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine: "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."


Even though they work together, Ant & Dec make sure they go out together at least once a week – and even live three doors apart in London!


Dec said: "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground."


Ant added: "We love each other, definitely."

Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million.