In a statement they said: "It is important to us that people understand that none of the shows highlighted in the findings of the ITV’s independent review were made by our production company, Gallowgate, and that there was no financial benefit to us from the phone lines within those shows.

"Our roles as executive producers on Saturday Night Takeaway are purely creative ones. We are not involved in running the phone lines, the logistics of the competitions or selecting winners.

"We are deeply upset about what the review uncovered. However, we welcome the full disclosure of these problems, not least because we can be sure that our viewers have the opportunity to get their money back. The way our viewers and fans have been treated simply isn’t acceptable and we are truly sorry."

They had spoken personally with ITV chairman Michael Grade about the review’s findings and were "confident" that ITV would not allow the problems to be repeated.

Competitions were rigged on Ant and Dec programmes Saturday Night Takeaway and Gameshow Marathon, as well as Soapstar Superstar.

Dec ’taken to hospital after fall’ - Sept 10 2007
Declan Donnelly was taken to hospital after falling over whilst ice skating on Saturday Night Takeaway.

The 31-year-old slipped over during the final lap of a skating race with his presenting partner Ant McPartlin.

He was seen wincing with pain during the last 15 minutes of the show, until filming was stopped so he could be taken to hospital. There, he was found to have a sprained ankle.

He is now hobbling around on crutches with a large bruise on the front of his leg.

An source told The Sun: "It was a nasty crash and made the audience wince. But the boys still had to finish the show, so Dec had to grin and bear it.

"Then he called out to the team and they decided on hospital. At least there’s nothing broken. Fortunately it’s a spelling challenge next week."


Ant and Dec reveal hidden talents - June 6 2007
As new show Britain’s Got Talent hits our screens, presenters Ant and Dec have revealed they were a bit worried the title would turn out to be a big fat lie.

"Our main worry was, if Britain did have any talent, as initially they certainly weren’t turning up at our auditions!" says Dec.

"But as we got into it, the acts got better and better and there’s some really great ones in there," he adds quickly.

We know from their pop career that the lads are talented (sort of), but do they have any hidden party tricks that might see them walking away with the series?

"We’ve both got hidden talents," says Dec. "Although they’re so well hidden even we don’t know about them!"

Chances are their new show will be a big success, as the one talent the award-winning Geordie presenting pair do seem to have is picking TV winners, if their stints on I’m A Celebrity, Saturday Night Takeaway and PokerFace are anything to go by.


Ant & Dec’s ’boardgame row’ - May 2 2007
TV duo Ant and Dec apparently fell out - over a boardgame.

It seems the presenters - whose list of TV shows include Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! had a furious row while playing a board version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Ant’s wife Lisa, 31, told The Sun: "Dec’s very competitive.

"Things got really heated and he started calling Ant horrible names. Dec got so wound up he picked up the board and went home."