Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 44, have shared various behind-the-scenes memories of their time together as a presenting duo and former popstars in their new autobiography – Once Upon a Tyne. But one admission may come as a surprise to fans as the duo admitted they had a punch-up in the earlier days of their career.
Reflecting on the moment, Ant said the pair were booked to promote their single Stuck On U on GMTV in 1995, as part of a press tour.
Being given a rare day off, the duo headed to a pub the night before their live appearance on the show.
After enjoying a few drinks, Ant said Dec started to head back to their hotel room around 10pm, which he disapproved of.
Recalling their bust-up, Ant said he asked his sidekick at the time: “What the hell are you going to bed for?”
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After seeing Dec “stumbling towards the lift”, Ant said that “something about that incensed me and I lost it”.
He then told him: “Don’t you dare walk away from me when I’m talking to you.”
Dec said he hit back at his co-star asking why he was talking to him in such a manner, adding, “he was really pushing my buttons”.
The pair added their argument continued in the lift and things swiftly escalated.
Ant said of the situation: “I proved Dec is rubbish at fighting when he’s had a few.”
The duo added the pair’s tour manager at the time Kim Glover intervened and broke their fight up.
The next morning, the long-term friends said they refused to look at each other but were soon all smiles again in front of the cameras.
They went on to say their fight was a one-off and hadn’t been at loggerheads since the incident.
Ant and Dec found fame in CBBC’s drama Byker Grove.
They went on to release singles as their pop alter-egos PJ and Duncan, including their most memorable hit Ready To Rumble.
Nowadays, the pair are best known for their work on television, fronting shows such as Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
The duo will return to screens later this year for the revamped version of the ITV reality show.