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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Brendan McFadden

Saturday Night Takeaway’s Little Ant And Dec unrecognisable 18 years after debut

James Pallister and Dylan McKenna-Redshaw made their debut on Saturday Night Takeaway as the younger counterparts of hosts Ant and Dec 18 years ago - and now they look totally different.

Little Ant and Dec, as they were known to millions of viewers, first featured on the show in 2003 and during their five-series stint they interviewed everyone from David and Victoria Beckham to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

James now works as a vehicle technician for BMW and Dylan is a nutrition business owner.

The pair who both live in Newcastle reunited with Ant and Dec earlier this year and told how they couldn't get over how much they had changed.

Dylan said: “It’s always good to see Ant and Dec again. They were shocked when they saw us, it’s been a few years since we have caught up and we are much taller!

James Pallister and Dylan McKenna-Redshaw now look totally different from when they first appeared on the show (ITV)

“It was a really good experience. Me and James used to joke with Ant and Dec. They were great teachers! Looking back I guess we were able to be more naughty and cheeky than they would have got away with.

“Times have changed. I don’t think I look like a Little Ant now but I really enjoyed the experience and its something I’ll never forget.”

The pair were last seen on the show in 2006 and new versions of Little Ant and Dec - Neil Overend and Haydn Reid - were brought in on Saturday Night Takeaway's 2010 incarnation and stayed for four series.

After the first junior versions of the presenters stepped down, a source told the Daily Star : "Little Ant and Dec have outgrown the role, quite literally, and as such won't be returning to the show this year.

"Little Dec has his SATs next year and Little Ant is moving to high school so it felt like the right time for them to move on and focus on their studies."

The pair have been regulars in the Saturday Night Takeaway audience ever since, according to Ant and Dec.

The pair interviewed everyone from David and Victoria Beckham to former Prime Minister Tony Blair (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

Dec told Digital Spy in February: "They sometimes come down with their families. They'll come down to a show every year. But we didn't see them last year. And we won't see them this year because we won't have anybody at the studio.

"We haven't seen them for a little while. They normally come down to take in a show. That's the one that makes us feel really old!"

The pair also told how they are not opposed to finding a new Little Ant & Dec at some point in the future.

Ant said they "might search again for two new Littles and do the item again".

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