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Ant and Dec: A look back at their friendship from Byker Grove days to Eternal Love music video

Ant and Dec have been best friends since 1989 - we take a look back at their friendship

Ant and Dec split image
Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
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Ant and Dec are without a doubt one of the UK's most iconic presenting duos, having been a regular fixture on our screens for over 20 years. Amid the pair's recreation of their iconic PJ & Duncan song Eternal Love, we've taken a look back at their close friendship, which has spanned over several decades since they were originally cast in Byker Grove together back in 1989.

But before you take a trip down memory lane, watch the hilarious new video below. 

WATCH: Ant and Dec recreate Eternal Love in hilarious video

Byker Grove days

ant and dec pj and duncan

Before they were Ant and Dec, who could forget PJ and Duncan?! The boys were best friends on Byker Grove since joining the cast in 1989, and their friendship immediately caught the public's attention. One particularly memorable moment was when when Duncan stood by PJ's side after an unfortunately paintballing accident left Ant's poor character blind!

SMTV Live with Cat Deeley

ant and dec smtv

Who could forget Ant and Dec's antics on SMTV Live? From their Pokemon battles to the Friends spoof Chums to the iconic 'Wonkey Donkey' segment, where Dec would shout at children who called in trying to guess the rhyme about a different weekly animal, the show and Saturday morning television was never quite the same after their stint!

Turning 30

ant and dec baby news

Ant and Dec laughed while exchanging a swift hug back in 2005 while leaving a party to celebrate their joint 30th birthdays since they are born only two months apart! Dec is the eldest of the pair, and turned 42 back on 25 September, while Ant joined him on 18 November.

Big wins at the BAFTAs

ant and dec © Photo: Getty Images

The cheeky chaps were all smiles while holding up their matching BAFTAs, which they received for 'Best Entertainment Performance'. They won their first BAFTAs for the category in 2010 after years of nominations. They have won 13 BAFTAs overall, including Best Entertainment Programme for Saturday Night Takeaway, and Best Live Event: The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration.

Little Ant and Little Dec

little ant and dec now

Of course, it was only a matter of time before the presenters found their mini-mes! Here, Ant and Dec pose with Little Ant and Little Dec at the National Television Awards, London, 2003. The youngsters were eventually replaced by Neil Overend and Haydn Reid, who left the show this year, with an ITV source telling the Daily Mail: "Little Dec has his SATs next year and Little Ant is moving to high school so it felt like the right time for them to move on and focus on their studies."

ant and dec© Photo: Rex

We love Ant and Dec's antics on Britain's Got Talent, even after they have presented the show since 2007, and it's easy to see why! Here's the pair donning Union Jack boxer shorts in front of a packed stadium back in 2017 - hilarious!

Royal connections

ant and dec charles

These two have royal connections! Not only are they celebrity ambassadors for King Charles' charity, The Prince's Trust, but the pair were both made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for their services to broadcasting and entertainment.

Making NTA history

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly after winning at the NTAs© David M. Benett,Getty

Ant and Dec have won the TV Presenter award at the National Television Awards a whopping 22 times! They even won the 2014 Landmark Award for 25 years in television. At the tim, Dec said: "Most importantly, neither of us would be here if it wasn't for each other," to which Ant replied: "Oh don't start that! I love you man. Love you to bits." Aw.

Ant is best man at Dec's wedding

dec donnelly wedding 6 © Photo: PA

The pair arrive at Dec's wedding to Ali Astall, at St Michael's Church in Newcastle, where of course Ant was Best Man. Speaking about the happy day, Ant told the Mirror: "She [Ali] looked amazing. It was very emotional, I was really emotional. He finally got married."

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Ant and Dec host I'm a Celebrity: South Africa

Ant and Dec have been presenting I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here since 2002, and still look as though they are having the time of their lives as they can't help but giggle at the celebrities in the jungle. The pair returned to host the show in 2017, despite reports that Ant wouldn't be returning due to his stay in rehab.

Ant wins Best Presenter after rehab stay

ant mcpartlin crying

Ant looked visibly moved after winning Best Presenter at the National Television Awards for the 17th time running with his friend. He said: "I'm emotional, very emotional. Because of the last 12 months what I've been through, winning this award is particularly emotional for me." He added to The Sun: "It's been emotional to say the least, I'll use that word again. I've had a very tricky year, but you know it's great to get back to work and we loved the last series of I'm a Celebrity and we're currently shooting stuff for Britain's Got Talent and Takeaway. I'm back in the swing of things so it's really good."

Ant's wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly at Ant's wedding in 2021© Mike Marsland,getty

Three years after moving on from his marriage to Lisa Armstrong, Ant tied the knot with Anne-Marie Corbett - and of course, Dec returned the favour as his best man. 

Ant and Dec recreate PJ and Duncan song

Ant and Dec's Eternal Love video© @antanddec/X

Ant and Dec always know how to make their fans smile and in January recreated their iconic Pj and Dunan song, Eternal Love. The video came after an old clip of the pair performing the song back in 1994 resurfaced. 

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