26 August 2005
Mirror
By Nicola Methven
ANT and Dec are to star in a sitcom about their real-life friendship.
They have had meetings with Granada bosses about a new show which is loosely autobiographical.
The ITV1 stars would play best buddies since school who have been out of touch for five years and meet up just as each reaches a crossroads in their lives.
Ant's character has given up his job as a crew member on posh yachts and decides to move in with Dec and sleep on his sofa. In an instance of art imitating life, Dec's character is single, having been dumped by his girlfriend.
The arrangement becomes long term as they become embroiled in a series of scrapes.
An insider said: "Perhaps it will be called Chums after the hilarious Friends spoof they did with Cat Deeley on sm:tv.
"Everyone is very excited - Ant and Dec have been saying they want to do a sitcom for years." An earlier attempt at a sitcom was a flop. They starred in a remake of The Likely Lads in 2002 but critics panned it.
A spokesman for the Saturday Night Takeaway hosts said the show was at a very early stage. He said: "Ant and Dec had an initial meeting with Granada. However this is just one of several they have had with production companies and nothing is confirmed."
The award winning hosts, both 29, will return this autumn for ITV's 50th anniversary to re-create game shows including Blockbuster and The Price is Right.
Another series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here is also planned for November.
