Music producer Mike Hedges, known for working with The Cure and U2, has shared insights into what Ant and Dec are really like off-screen. Hedges produced the duo's single 'We're on the Ball' and described them as "amazing" to work with.
'No Ego' and Genuine Laughter
Speaking to Smooth Spins Casino, Hedges recalled: "They were huge on TV at the time. They still are! And you don't know how people are going to be, but they were just as you would imagine. There's no putting anything on for the camera, they are just as likeable in real life."
He added: "In fact, they're so funny that we'd all leave the studio with our sides hurting from laughter. They were so down to earth too. They were just happy to chat and would offer to make everyone a cup of tea. They didn't have any ego about them. You wouldn't have known they were famous at all."
A Friendship Spanning Decades
When asked about the duo's real-life bond, Hedges confirmed: "Oh yes, they had a great friendship. They really bounced off each other. They just got on well and had a good time, but when it came down to recording, they were absolute professionals."
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly first met on the set of CBBC's Byker Grove in 1989 when they were 13. Their friendship quickly blossomed, leading them to perform together as PJ & Duncan throughout the 1990s. They later transitioned to presenting, hosting The Ant & Dec Show in 1995, SMTV Live in 1998, and eventually landing iconic roles on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2002.
Friendship as the Secret to Success
In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Dec reflected on their enduring partnership: "We always said our career was built on our friendship and that our friendship was the secret of our success. The career just happened by accident."
