ITV Secures Ant And Dec Until The End of 2009

Cheeky chappies Ant and Dec are set to remain with ITV until the end of 2009, after signing a new deal with the commercial broadcaster.

The pair have been exclusively signed to the network since the year 2000, presenting a string of high rating shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Ant and Dec’s Gameshow Marathon and two series of Pop Idol.

In 2002 Ant and Dec, with Granada, developed and launched their own primetime format, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, which proved to be a hit for the broadcaster, as well two series of the duo’s latest project, Pokerface.

Simon Shaps, ITV’s director of television, said: “Ant and Dec have become synonymous with ITV and they have played a huge role in making the channel the home of entertainment programming in the UK. I’m thrilled that we are able to extend our deal with Ant and Dec and take our exclusive partnership into its ninth year.”

Paul Jackson, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, added: “Ant and Dec are undoubtedly the nation’s favourite TV presenters with an incredible amount of talent and appeal for ITV’s viewers. To be able to continue working with them exclusively is an absolute delight and we’re looking forward to building upon existing formats and developing some exciting new ones over the next two years.”

Ant and Dec joined ITV in 1998 as presenters and co-creators of the highly successful Saturday morning show, SM:TV Live and CD:UK, which became cult viewing amongst children and adults alike and won countless awards.

Over the past three years, Ant and Dec have continued to sweep the board at awards shows including nine National Television Awards, winner “Best Entertainment Presenter” for the past six years running, two GQ Awards, seven British Comedy Awards and numerous TV Quick Awards.

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com