Ant & Dec’s Dazzling New ITV Deal: Saturday Night Legends Strike Again!

Olivia Bennett, 12/23/2025 Britain’s beloved double act, Ant & Dec, ink a glittering new deal with ITV, celebrating 30 years of comedic chemistry and unrivalled showbiz supremacy—proof that in the golden glow of Saturday night TV, genuine legends never fade, no matter how fast the streaming scroll spins.

Now, longevity in showbiz is a tricky beast. Flick through the annals of British telly and you’ll see partnerships coming and going with the regularity of pop-up restaurants in Soho—here today, gone by the weekend. But not these two. Their trajectory—rising from the sugar-charged chaos of SM:TV Live to the comfortably decadent slot of Saturday night—is almost mythic, particularly in an era where the mere thought of sitting through a full-length broadcast feels quaint, if not exotic.

Ask anyone in the business and they'll tell you: Ant & Dec are ITV’s answer to the Crown Jewels. And not just for nostalgia’s sake. The pair, both turning 50 and somehow still every bit the mischief-makers, have weathered the streaming wars, the encroachment of TikTok, and the endless shuffle of on-demand viewing. Their catalogue glitters—Britain’s Got Talent, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, the edge-of-your-sofa pressure cooker that is Limitless Win. Collectively, these shows have drawn viewers in droves, amassing nearly 700 million streams on ITVX. Not too shabby for a format that, at its core, still believes in the shared gasp or giggle.

Words from the duo after their contract renewal—Ant declaring himself “absolutely delighted,” Dec following up with pride in their creative rapport—feel genuine. Unlike so many other contractual sighs, there’s a current of real excitement for what’s next. And it hasn’t always been smooth sailing; Ant’s much-publicised spell in rehab and the winding down of Saturday Night Takeaway were stark reminders that even TV royalty can stumble. Yet, even when the crown slips, ITV’s faith remains entrenched—Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director, all but crowned them anew by calling their impact “unrivalled.”

Let’s not overlook the broader cultural undercurrents here. In 2025, the weekend slot is a battleground. The rules, once written in Radio Times and inked in ritual, have gone the way of Ceefax. Audiences now flick between platforms with the flick of a finger (or a distracted swipe), but Ant & Dec have managed something rare—they’ve kept one foot in tradition, the other striding confidently into digital territory. Young viewers now binge-watch BGT auditions or squabble with their parents over which era of Ant & Dec is definitive: peak Geordie antics, early-2000s or the more refined present-day resurgence.

And there’s more to this deal than just staying power. The pair’s Mitre Studios venture turns them into something closer to entertainment auteurs than mere presenters—crafting formats, producing content, and, crucially, holding creative reins. It’s a subtle yet decisive shift in the industry’s power balance: talent dictating trends rather than just reading an autocue.

Scan back through their highlights reel and the narrative takes on a Gatsby-esque glimmer—48 National Television Awards, 18 BAFTAs, and a fanbase stubbornly loyal through three decades of shifting tastes. One might be tempted to dismiss their particular brand of banter and live-wire chemistry as just light entertainment. But to do so would be missing the point. There’s a craftsmanship here—an ability to read a room, to deliver just enough mischief, to let audiences look in on the joke and occasionally become the punchline.

Of course, even the brightest stars are susceptible to a little bit of tarnish. Fame in this industry is always a double-edged sword; yet, if there’s a secret to Ant & Dec’s resilience, it likely lies somewhere between never taking themselves too seriously and knowing exactly when to step back, recalibrate, and reset.

As ITV and the pair toast to this latest chapter—with all its promise of digital innovation, fresh formats, and (inevitably) more trophy-laden award nights—British TV finds a reason to recalibrate its compass. The tradition of the Saturday night gathering may look different now—screens are smaller, the snacks more indulgent, perhaps families are scattered across Zoom or WhatsApp rather than clustered round the TV—but somehow, the familiar duo remains.

So, as contracts are signed and champagne corks make their ritual escape backstage somewhere in London, it’s fair to say: these are not just the faces of a channel, but the living, breathing proof that—amid all the froth and flux—genuine connection and creative spark still matter. As a new act begins, one has to wonder where the next punchline will land. For now, though, it remains Ant & Dec’s stage. The rest merely dance around it.

If there’s such a thing as an undisputed dynasty in British television, one would be hard-pressed to look beyond the ever-smiling duo of Ant & Dec. Picture it—a hypothetical Mount Rushmore of primetime, their faces carved front and centre, eternally grinning down as if halfway through a gag. By the time 2028 comes calling, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will have notched up a remarkable, nearly unbroken 30-year partnership with ITV. And thanks to a sparkling new three-year exclusive deal inked in 2025, the saga continues.Now, longevity in showbiz is a tricky beast. Flick through the annals of British telly and you’ll see partnerships coming and going with the regularity of pop-up restaurants in Soho—here today, gone by the weekend. But not these two. Their trajectory—rising from the sugar-charged chaos of SM:TV Live to the comfortably decadent slot of Saturday night—is almost mythic, particularly in an era where the mere thought of sitting through a full-length broadcast feels quaint, if not exotic.Ask anyone in the business and they'll tell you: Ant & Dec are ITV’s answer to the Crown Jewels. And not just for nostalgia’s sake. The pair, both turning 50 and somehow still every bit the mischief-makers, have weathered the streaming wars, the encroachment of TikTok, and the endless shuffle of on-demand viewing. Their catalogue glitters—Britain’s Got Talent, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, the edge-of-your-sofa pressure cooker that is Limitless Win. Collectively, these shows have drawn viewers in droves, amassing nearly 700 million streams on ITVX. Not too shabby for a format that, at its core, still believes in the shared gasp or giggle.Words from the duo after their contract renewal—Ant declaring himself “absolutely delighted,” Dec following up with pride in their creative rapport—feel genuine. Unlike so many other contractual sighs, there’s a current of real excitement for what’s next. And it hasn’t always been smooth sailing; Ant’s much-publicised spell in rehab and the winding down of Saturday Night Takeaway were stark reminders that even TV royalty can stumble. Yet, even when the crown slips, ITV’s faith remains entrenched—Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director, all but crowned them anew by calling their impact “unrivalled.”Let’s not overlook the broader cultural undercurrents here. In 2025, the weekend slot is a battleground. The rules, once written in Radio Times and inked in ritual, have gone the way of Ceefax. Audiences now flick between platforms with the flick of a finger (or a distracted swipe), but Ant & Dec have managed something rare—they’ve kept one foot in tradition, the other striding confidently into digital territory. Young viewers now binge-watch BGT auditions or squabble with their parents over which era of Ant & Dec is definitive: peak Geordie antics, early-2000s or the more refined present-day resurgence.And there’s more to this deal than just staying power. The pair’s Mitre Studios venture turns them into something closer to entertainment auteurs than mere presenters—crafting formats, producing content, and, crucially, holding creative reins. It’s a subtle yet decisive shift in the industry’s power balance: talent dictating trends rather than just reading an autocue.Scan back through their highlights reel and the narrative takes on a Gatsby-esque glimmer—48 National Television Awards, 18 BAFTAs, and a fanbase stubbornly loyal through three decades of shifting tastes. One might be tempted to dismiss their particular brand of banter and live-wire chemistry as just light entertainment. But to do so would be missing the point. There’s a craftsmanship here—an ability to read a room, to deliver just enough mischief, to let audiences look in on the joke and occasionally become the punchline.Of course, even the brightest stars are susceptible to a little bit of tarnish. Fame in this industry is always a double-edged sword; yet, if there’s a secret to Ant & Dec’s resilience, it likely lies somewhere between never taking themselves too seriously and knowing exactly when to step back, recalibrate, and reset.As ITV and the pair toast to this latest chapter—with all its promise of digital innovation, fresh formats, and (inevitably) more trophy-laden award nights—British TV finds a reason to recalibrate its compass. The tradition of the Saturday night gathering may look different now—screens are smaller, the snacks more indulgent, perhaps families are scattered across Zoom or WhatsApp rather than clustered round the TV—but somehow, the familiar duo remains.So, as contracts are signed and champagne corks make their ritual escape backstage somewhere in London, it’s fair to say: these are not just the faces of a channel, but the living, breathing proof that—amid all the froth and flux—genuine connection and creative spark still matter. As a new act begins, one has to wonder where the next punchline will land. For now, though, it remains Ant & Dec’s stage. The rest merely dance around it.