Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly first met in 1990 as young actors working on the second series of children's soap Byker Grove. Despite becoming virtually inseparable over their 36-year friendship, there are still a few questions that feel slightly too personal to ask.
Discussing Valentine's Day on their podcast Hanging Out With Ant & Dec, Declan asked his presenting partner whether he had any plans for the weekend. Rather than phrasing the question conventionally, however, Dec blurted out: "Are you doing something sexy and nice?"
Ant immediately dissolved into giggles, asking, "What on earth?", as his on-screen partner blustered with embarrassment.
"I didn't mean to say that," Dec insisted. "I apologise."
Still chuckling, Ant admitted he was planning something "sexy and nice" with his wife, Anne‑Marie Corbett. He added that, because she was formerly his PA and still manages the family diary, surprising her is very difficult.
For his part, Declan said he would celebrate on Saturday with his wife, Ali Astall, who also acts as Ant & Dec's manager. Rather than doing anything "sexy", he joked they would be having "a family Valentine's with the kids".
It is one of the rare occasions when the presenting duo will not be together. After bonding during their Byker Grove years, they branched out into their own shows for the BBC and Channel 4 before progressing to major hits including SMTV Live, Pop Idol, Britain's Got Talent, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and most recently Ant & Dec's Limitless Win, which airs tonight at 8pm on ITV.
As well as being beloved presenters, they are also savvy businessmen -- carefully managing their brand and even standing in alphabetical order, with Ant on the left and Dec on the right.
Dec served as best man at both of Ant's weddings: to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong in 2006 and to Anne-Marie in 2021. In an emotional speech, he described Ant as "the best friend a man could have".
Ant and Anne-Marie welcomed a child -- Ant's first -- in May 2024. The Geordie presenter is also stepfather to Anne-Marie's teenage daughters, Daisy and Poppy.
After living close to Dec in south-west London for many years, Ant and Anne-Marie now reside with their young son, Wilder, in a substantial £10 million mansion in leafy Surrey. The couple reportedly paid more than £1 million in stamp duty ahead of the move earlier this year.
One neighbour told the Daily Mail: "Apparently, it is a record sale for the area and it's all anyone is gossiping about. It is one of the prime private estates set within an acre of grounds, so he shouldn't have trouble with the neighbours any more."
Another local added that Ant appears to be settling into the exclusive neighbourhood well: "He looks very content and is always happy to say hello to people who recognise him -- but I don't think he'll be bothered too much around here, as we're used to celebrities frequenting the local hostelries."
