While they famously put celebrities through gruelling 'Bushtucker Trials' in the jungle, television presenting duo Ant and Dec are now navigating a very different kind of challenge off-screen. The pair have launched a significant High Court legal action, aiming to trace missing artworks and assets linked to their personal art collections.
The Legal Claim: A Specialist Court Action
Court documents reveal that Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have filed a Part 8 claim in the Business and Property Courts of the High Court. The defendants named in the action are art dealer Andrew Lilley and his company, Lilley Fine Art Ltd.
Rather than a standard claim for damages, the presenters are seeking a court order under specialised legal jurisdictions known as Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust. These remedies can compel a party to disclose information and documents to help identify alleged wrongdoers or trace missing assets.
The claim form states the presenters believe they are 'entitled to legal remedy' and that there is 'a good arguable case that there has been wrongdoing'. It alleges the defendants have been 'mixed up in the wrongdoing' and are likely to hold relevant documents or information.
Tracing Valuable Art Assets
The legal papers argue that granting the order is 'necessary and proportionate'. They state there are 'good grounds to conclude that the money or assets in respect of which information is sought belongs to the claimants'.
Furthermore, the claim suggests there is 'a real prospect that the information sought will lead to the location or preservation of the assets in question'. The objective is clear: 'The claimants seek an order that is, so far as possible, directed at uncovering the particular assets which are to be traced.'
Ant and Dec have long been associated with the contemporary art market, particularly as collectors of works by the elusive street artist Banksy. Reports indicate the pair began purchasing his work after attending an exhibition in 2009, with one estimate suggesting they spent around £1 million.
The Dealer at the Centre
The dealer named in the claim, Andrew Lilley, is described as a specialist in sourcing rare pieces, including works by Banksy and Andy Warhol. His firm promotes itself online as an 'Original Banksy Art Dealer'.
This legal move marks a serious escalation in the presenters' efforts to recover what they believe are their assets, shifting the drama from the Australian jungle to the confines of the Royal Courts of Justice.
