Ant and Dec fool Cowell - 10/01/03
Ant and Dec have fooled Pop Idol’s Mr Nasty Simon Cowell by auditioning for the US version of the show wearing disguises and singing very very badly.

The due went to Texas on the last day of auditions for American Idol’s second series. They claimed to be Jimmy and Scott Osterman, two brothers from Denver.

Wearing false beards, wigs and prosthetic make-up they fooled the music mogul who had no idea he was auditioning the Pop Idol presenters. After singing an awful rendition of Opposites Attract, Cowell was all set to slate them when he twigged all was not what it seemed.

Ant and Dec then revealed their true identity to the stunned Cowell. Viewers will see the stunt as part of a new section called Ant and Dec Undercover on their primetime show Saturday Night Takeaway which returns for a second series this weekend.


More success for Ant and Dec - 20/12/02
Geordie duo Ant and Dec have landed a hat-trick of Television and Radio Industries Club awards.

They were named TV Personalities of the Year, while the ITV1 hit shows they hosted - CD:UK and Pop Idol - were also award-winners.

Ant and Dec were not at the ceremony in London.


Ant and Dec seeing double - 06/12/02
TV bosses have been searching for spitting images of Geordie boys Ant and Dec - so they can spend a day doing the stars’ job.

The TV double-act - Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - want the lookalikes to help out on the new series of their hit ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway.

And the wannabes will work with them on the show before the public pick the perfect pair of doubles - who will then spend a day working as the real Ant and Dec.


New series! - 03/12/02 Courtesy of Heat Magazine
Heat can reveal that there will be another series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, perhaps as early as next year.

Details on the line-up are almost non-existent, although a mole told us it’s likely the show will feature Keith Chegwin and that Ant and Dec will be the presenters once again.


Ant is banned from driving - 01/11/02
Geordie Ant McPartlin has been banned from driving for three months after being caught doing 127mph.

He was pulled over in his Audi TT by an unmarked police car on a 70mph stretch of the A1 in Co Durham.

The TV presenter pleaded guilty at a court hearing in Chester-le-Street. Ant says he now has to be chauffeured around by TV partner Declan Donnelly.


ITV sign Ant and Dec for another two years - 21/10/02
ITV has confirmed that the award winning duo - Ant and Dec will be staying with them for the next two years. Shows that the pair are tipped to present are a second series of Saturday Night Take Away and Pop Idol 2 next year. With their third win at the recent National Television Awards (see below) - it is very clear that ITV are glad to have them and the feeling appears to be mutual.

Hat-trick of awards for Ant and Dec 17/10/02
The Geordie duo Ant and Dec have picked up three awards at the National Television Awards in London. They landed the Top Entertainer Prize for the second year running and their show Pop Idol was named Most Popular Entertainment Programme.

Ant and Dec were stunned to find they had also won the Special Recognition Award, following in the footsteps of stars such as Des O’Connor, John Thaw and David Jason.