Fans of television presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been left in disbelief, with many exclaiming 'they'd be cancelled now' after a series of clips from their 1990s show SM:TV Live resurfaced and went viral on TikTok. The duo, both aged 50, first rose to prominence in the late 1990s when they took over the Saturday morning slot on CITV, co-hosting alongside This Morning's Cat Deeley.
The Viral TikTok Sensation
The clips that have captured social media attention feature segments from the popular phone-in game Wonkey Donkey, which had its own catchy theme tune and involved young viewers calling in to guess rhyming descriptions of toy animals. The game became infamous for Ant and Dec's exaggerated, comedic mockery of contestants who failed to provide the correct two-word answers.
Examples of the Mockery
In one viral video, a child guesses that a stuffed cat wearing a tartan outfit is a 'Scottish-gator', prompting Dec to scream into the camera, 'That doesn’t rhyme! Scottish-gator doesn’t rhyme!' Another clip shows a bird adorned with a monocle, and when the child incorrectly identifies it, Dec fumes, 'What do they teach these kids at school?' to which Ant retorts, 'Nothing!'
A third instance features a child describing a sleeping cat as a 'sleeping kitten', leading Dec to grab the camera and reply, 'If you're going to try, don't bother.' Additional footage captures Dec throwing items on the floor in mock fury as another young caller offers a series of wrong answers over the phone.
Fan Reactions and Cancel Culture Debate
Viewers flocked to the comments section under the TikTok video, joking that the series would likely be 'cancelled' if it aired in the same format today due to the presenters' jokingly harsh treatment of callers. One fan wrote, 'Kids TV would get cancelled if it was like this now,' while another added, 'I was just thinking the same thing! Can you imagine? Perhaps that’s what the kids nowadays need!'
A third commenter agreed, stating, 'Everyone got all offended so nothing is funny anymore,' and someone else penned, 'Always had me in stitches when Dec got angry!' These reactions highlight a broader debate about whether such comedic segments, intended as light-hearted fun, would withstand the scrutiny of modern cancel culture.
Background on SM:TV Live
SM:TV Live, which aired from 1998 to 2001, featured popular segments like Chums, a parody of the sitcom Friends, and the beloved Wonkey Donkey game. Despite its eventual success as a much-loved children's show, Ant and Dec have admitted that it had a shaky start. In 2020, they revealed they were worried about having to move 'back to their parents' if the show failed, with Dec recalling, 'We thought, "If they pull this, I’d lose my house, have to move back to Newcastle with my parents". I thought, "This is bad".'
Ant added that they initially focused too much on the music section, saying, 'It had been going fairly badly for a long enough time that people were asking should we even be on air.' The show's fortunes turned when they embraced 'toilet humour and slap stick' as their secret weapon to entertain young viewers. Dec joked, 'On the BBC, they were cosy and nice to the kids. We wanted to be their mischievous older brothers.'
Ant and Dec's Career Trajectory
Ant and Dec first gained fame in 1990 on the series Byker Grove, starring as characters PJ and Duncan. After leaving the show, they pursued a music career under the band name PJ and Duncan, achieving success with hits like Let's Get Ready To Rhumble. Their pop career lasted until 1997 when their record label shelved their contract, leading them to return to television with SM:TV Live in 1998.
Following their departure from SM:TV Live in 2001, the duo went on to host major prime-time TV shows, including I'm A Celebrity, Britain's Got Talent, and Saturday Night Takeaway. They are set to return to Britain's Got Talent this weekend as the ITV talent competition airs on Saturday night, this time alongside new judge KSI.
Legacy and Current Success
Britain's Got Talent, which has been captivating audiences since 2007, continues to draw average viewership numbers of between five and seven million. The show's main prize offers contestants a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show, along with £250,000 in cash winnings. Ant and Dec's enduring popularity and ability to adapt to changing television landscapes underscore their status as iconic presenters in the entertainment industry.
