Ant McPartlin has become one of the best-loved TV presenters on the box thanks to a string of hit shows like I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Take Away and Britain's Got Talent.
Fans of all ages love his warm sense of humour and mischievous sense of fun that he shares with his best mate and presenting pal Declan Donnelly, a friendship that has endured for over three decades in the spotlight.
But here are a few things you might not know about the star...
Ant's first big break was also where he met his best mate
Born in Newcastle, Ant's first big TV break was in the CBBC show Byker Grove. Set in a youth club in the Byker district of Newcastle, the show ran from 1989 to 2006. Ant played the role of PJ for three years from 1990 and also met his soon-to-be best mate Declan Donnelly, who played Duncan.
The show also launched the careers of many other household names including Jill Halfpenny, Donna Air, and Emmerdale actor Charlie Hardwick.
Ant's had a NO. 1 single
Oh we couldn’t possibly, never, no, don’t even mention i.. oh go on then. If we must. Rhumbling since ‘94, PJ & Duncan reunited for the @itvtakeaway promo 📺 pic.twitter.com/YkAbgOkZU8January 24, 2021
A whopping 19 years after it was originally released, Ant and Dec secured the No. 1 slot in the charts in March 2013 with their PJ & Duncan single 'Let's get Ready to Rhumble'.
Originally released in 1994 it was the third single from their first studio album called Psyche. It made the top ten at the time, but nearly two decades later, when the pair performed it on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway for charity Childline, the nation went crazy for its catchy tune and natty dance moves once again.
Ant and Dec are world record breakers
Ant and Dec smash Guinness World Record with 18th NTAs win: The Geordie duo won Best Presenter... again https://t.co/NTUJgkTZzt pic.twitter.com/b2hrQkheCSJanuary 24, 2019
In 2019 Ant and Dec were awarded a Guinness World Record for most consecutive National TV Awards wins. At the time they had won 18 in a row, but have since broken their own record by bagging the Best TV Presenter award a staggering 22 times to date.
In total, the pair have won 45 NTA's. Not bad for a couple of lads from Newcastle!
Ant proposed on Christmas Eve
Ant got down on one knee on Christmas Eve 2020 and asked his girlfriend, his former PA Anne-Marie Corbett, to marry him. A source told The Sun. "Obviously getting engaged in the midst of a pandemic isn't ideal when it comes to planning a wedding!" The pair eventually tied the knot in August 2021 in Heckfield, Hampshire.
Ant and Dec are related!
Through the tears and the laughter, Ant and Dec discover relatives they didn’t even know existed and unearth some shocking revelations. Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey. Tonight & Tomorrow 9pm @ITV #AntAndDecsDNAJourney @antanddec pic.twitter.com/XX9vsDzPzaNovember 10, 2019
In the 2019 ITV documentary Ant and Dec's DNA Journey the pair discovered they were actually cousins!
The show revealed they share the same Viking warrior descendant through their father's bloodline.
Ant has an OBE
In 2016 Ant and Dec were delighted to be included on the late Queen's Birthday Honours List and awarded OBEs for services to broadcasting and entertainment.
They said on their Instagram account. "We are both shocked, but incredibly honoured to receive OBE’s. We absolutely love what we do and have done since we started out aged 13. We are very passionate about the shows we present and we were especially honoured this year to host both The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration and the 40 Years of the Princes Trust documentary.
"What we do also allows us to work with some amazing charities that really do make a difference. 2016 has been a fantastic year so far, and we're so grateful for all the support we receive. We are just two ordinary lads from the west end of Newcastle. We hope us receiving this honour can inspire young people to chase their dreams and believe that anything is possible. This will definitely be the proudest our mams have ever been!"
Ant McPartlin's Fact File...
Frequently asked questions about the star...
How old is Ant McPartlin?
Ant is 48. He was born on 18 November 1975.
Is Ant McPartlin married?
Ant and his first wife, Lisa Armstrong, divorced in 2018, and Ant is now married to Anne-Marie Corbett. The couple tied the knot in August 2021 in Heckfield, Hampshire.
Does Ant McPartlin have any children?
Ant shares two stepchildren with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett and the couple are also expecting a baby together later this year.
Where was Ant McPartlin born?
Ant was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
How tall is Ant McPartlin?
Ant is 5 foot 7 inches tall.
Twitter: @antanddec
Instagram: @antanddec
We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.
