Ant and Dec sign new three-year deal with ITV
The veteran performers will appear exclusively on the broadcaster until at least 2019, marking nearly 20 years working there
As recent events and political elections make the world feel like a strange and uncertain place, it’s good to know that there are a few certainties in life. Grass is green, the sky is blue (barring extreme climate change) and, most comforting of all, Ant and Dec appear on nearly every ITV light entertainment show. This is just how things are.
So it’s gratifying to learn that this partnership just got extended for a while longer, with the Geordie twosome inking a deal with ITV that’ll see them continue to appear exclusively on the broadcaster until 2019, marking around 20 years of their relationship with the channel.
The deal will include more series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (which returned last night to strong ratings), Britain’s Got Talent and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, with the duo describing themselves as “delighted” in a joint statement (which we like to imagine they said in unison).
“We are absolutely delighted to be extending our relationship with ITV, to continue on the three shows we love as well as exploring further opportunities both in front of and behind the camera,” they said.
“This deal will take us past the 20-year mark with ITV and we couldn't be happier.”
Kevin Lygo, ITV's Director of Television, added: “Ant and Dec are quite simply brilliant entertainers and I’m thrilled that we will be working together for another three years.
“They are incredibly passionate about television and have that rare ability to connect with audiences of all ages, which has helped make the shows they present some of the biggest on British TV.”
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2016 celebrities
Authors
Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.
