Anthony David McPartlin was born on November 18th 1975 in
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly was born on September 25th 1975, also in Newcastle. The two young aspiring actors met each other whilst working on the BBC children's drama Byker Grove in 1988. After a shaky start, they soon became good friends.

The popularity of Ant and Dec's characters in Byker Grove, who were called PJ and Duncan, prompted the pair to try their hand at being pop stars. The venture was a huge success and three years later the boys had recorded fourteen hit singles and three popular albums.

However, Ant and Dec were both wise enough to realise that music was not where their true talents lay. The boys were born entertainers so they decided to return to television with The Ant and Dec Show which ran for two series on the BBC.

ITV were quick to spot the potential of these two likeable lads and gave them two of their own shows on Saturday morning television, SM:tv and CD:uk. These back to back programmes highlighted Ant and Dec's unique ability to entertain and hold together live television.

Since then, the Geordie duo have presented numerous successful television shows including Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon, I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

In 2006 Ant and Dec appeared in their first major feature film, the comedy sci-fi movie Alien Autopsy. Although the film didn't take the world by storm, the boys certainly didn't embarrass themselves. More movies could be on the way.