TV Duo Ant and Dec Admonished for Boisterous Sleepover at Royal Estate
Beloved television presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have disclosed they received a gentle reprimand for causing excessive noise during a sleepover at King Charles's Scottish country estate, Dumfries House. The pair, who followed the monarch for a year while filming a television programme, were invited to spend the night at the Ayrshire residence ahead of their final interview with the then-Prince of Wales.
An Unforgettable Royal Encounter
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, McPartlin, aged 50, recounted their memorable stay, emphasising they "got on really well" with Charles. He shared a humorous anecdote from the evening, stating: "We were asked if we would like to spend the night at the house ahead of the final interview. We were like ‘Hell, yes!’ It was amazing and everything you’d imagine."
McPartlin continued with a tale of royal embarrassment: "I tried on the robe that was in my room and ran out into the corridor to find Dec and there was the prince. He said ‘hello’ and started talking to me about pruning roses. I was so embarrassed."
A Late-Night Disturbance Leads to a Telling-Off
Donnelly then confessed to the incident that prompted the admonishment. He revealed: "We then had wine in the room and got a bit noisy. We took it a bit far and were asked to be quiet." The duo's boisterous behaviour apparently crossed a line, leading to a polite request for silence within the historic royal residence.
Promoting Their New Podcast Venture
The pair also took the opportunity to discuss their newly launched podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec. Donnelly noted: "We know each other inside out and we make each other laugh, so hopefully people will like it. Our wives are more nervous than us – they think we might give too much away." McPartlin added, describing the podcast's casual nature: "It really is just two mates catching up."
Other Highlights from The Graham Norton Show
Elsewhere on the popular BBC programme, Emmy award-winning actress Claire Foy discussed her new biographical drama, H Is For Hawk. Foy, renowned for her portrayal of a young Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, plays academic Helen Macdonald, who attempts to tame a goshawk following her father's death.
Addressing the film's poignant theme of grief, she stated: "There is an avoidance of death, but this story brings it out into the open and discusses it." She also spoke fondly of her experience working with birds of prey, saying: "I had to get to a competent level of falconry, so I wasn’t afraid of them. I came to appreciate them from a position of love and I really miss them. They are not affectionate creatures but there was a real connection."
The sofa also hosted Stranger Things star Joe Keery and rap artist Tinie Tempah, who performed his latest single, Energy. The Graham Norton Show is broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer at 11.20pm on Friday evenings.
