In news that will delight people of a certain age, who have fond memories of eating their tea while watching it in the 90s, Byker Grove is coming back, with Ant and Dec as its executive producers. And the presenters' key role in the reboot comes after the CBBC show shot them to massive TV fame.
While they have now been best mates for years, Ant and Dec didn't know each other before they both landed a role in the Newcastle set drama, which was on TV for 17 years and will now return as BYKER, thanks to the presenters' firm Mitre Studios, together with Sunderland's Fulwell73.
Dec relived his 'horrific' audition for Byker Grove as he and Ant filmed their ITV show DNA Journey in 2019, with him telling Ant: "We had to get into groups and make a map of the world, and lie on the floor. I just curled up in a ball and became Australia." Speaking in 2011, Ant admitted that he nearly didn't go for his audition, having hid the letter about from his mam. He explained: "She frog-marched me there and said to me ‘I don’t mind if you get the part and don’t take it. But if you don’t even go to the audition, you will never know what could have been.’"
READ MORE: Byker Grove to return to TV with new name and Ant and Dec on board
Both lads ended up earning roles on the show, although Ant has since gone on record to say he felt like an 'outsider' on his first day, as other cast members, including Dec already knew each other and were 'a bit cliquey.' But, before long, a young Ant and Dec bonded over their shared sense of humour and love of Vic and Bob and PJ and Duncan were born.
The two were right at the centre of all the Grove action, including scrapes with sworn enemies Denton Burn, but by far and away the most dramatic and most memorable moment for both of them was the 1993 scene which saw PJ accidentally blinded by Amanda Bewick and Debbie Dobson during a paintball game, with them firing at him, just as he was removing his safety goggles.
The scene was responsible for the still iconic 'He can't see man!" lie from Dec, whose character Duncan would end up betraying PJ, by becoming romantically involved with his girlfriend Debbie, played by Nicola Bell.
After initially becoming angry and frustrated at not being able to see, PJ ended up pursuing a keen interest in music, alongside Duncan, with them fronting act Grove Matrix, the move that led to Ant and Dec becoming bona fide pop stars, as they launched debut single Tonight I'm Free on Byker Grove.
At the age of 18. Ant and Dec's tenure at the Grove came to an end and they went onto score chart hits with songs like Why Me, Eternal Love and Lt's Get Ready to Rhumble, as well as hosting their own BBC show. However, the duo didn't forget their TV roots and returned to Byker Grove, for the funeral of much loved Grove leader Geoff.
They also made an emotional return to the set of Byker Grove in 2016, as part of a documentary celebrating 40 years of The Prince's Trust.
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