BBC look to Ant and Dec

The BBC is looking to bring Ant and Dec back, reports suggest.

11:07 12 May 2004

The BBC is looking to bring Ant and Dec back, reports suggest.

The beeb's Saturday night schedule has been taking a battering in recent months - and the Geordie duo could be its saviours according to the Daily Star.

ITV's two year deal with the pair is set to expire in October, giving the BBC a chance to step in.

"The BBC is desperate to land some really big names - and they don't come much bigger than Ant and Dec" a BBC source told the Star.

"The fact that they haven't yet agreed a new deal with ITV has given the BBC hope."

But things are far from set yet - the Star also quotes ITV1's network controller Nigel Pickard saying: "Ant and Dec have a two-year deal and will potentially sign on again."

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donelly front up some of ITV's most high-profile shows, including "Pop Idol", "I'm A Celebrity" and "Saturday Night Takeaway".

They started their careers as PJ and Duncan on the BBC children's programme "Byker Grove".