Ant and Dec One Shots

Their Friendship Over The Years

Ant and Dec first met as wide-eyed teenagers on the bustling set of Byker Grove in Newcastle. The air was thick with excitement, and the nervous energy of a live TV set buzzed around them-a world entirely new to them both. They were young, uncertain, each eager to make something of himself yet cautious about diving in too quickly.

Their first conversations were tentative-polite nods, cautious jokes, each boy testing the other's sense of humour and pace. Ant cracked a dry joke about the crew's endless stash of snacks, and Dec's smile broke wide, the two sharing a laugh that was unexpectedly comforting in the midst of so much unfamiliarity. Beneath the shy beginnings, something clicked. Each recognised a kindred spirit in the other-a friend-in-the-making who just might understand the strange path they were both about to navigate.

Bit by bit, polite nods turned into effortless camaraderie, and whispered mischief between takes became routine. By the end of that first season, they'd developed the kind of friendship that felt as natural as breathing, a bond others noticed right away. They became "Ant and Dec"-inseparable, two halves of a whole. Neither of them could have foreseen just how deeply this friendship would take root or how much it would define their lives. It was forged through late-night rehearsals, backstage pranks, and shared nerves before filming-a partnership anchored in trust and laughter. By the time they left Byker Grove, they were already family in everything but name.

As the years passed, their friendship grew in step with their careers. On the set of SM:TV Live, their partnership became the heartbeat of the show. Live television brought its own brand of chaos, yet amid the unpredictability, they found a rhythm no one else could match. One glance between them was enough to say everything; Ant would catch Dec's eye and instantly know what he was thinking. If Ant needed cover, Dec would jump in without missing a beat, turning a near-mishap into a crowd-pleasing moment. For the audience, it was all laughs and banter, but for Ant and Dec, each perfectly timed exchange was grounded in a trust that felt as solid as stone.

Through the pressures of fame, their friendship only deepened, blossoming in the long hours of rehearsals, under the bright lights, and in the endless grind of their schedules. When Dec went through a painful breakup, he returned home one evening to find Ant waiting on his doorstep, takeaway in hand and a bottle of wine tucked under his arm. Ant didn't need to ask questions or offer any empty words of pity-he just offered the quiet company of a best friend. As they sat together, Ant's terrible jokes filled the silences, coaxing a laugh out of Dec, if only for a moment. And when Ant faced his own struggles, especially during his battle with health issues, Dec's loyalty never wavered. He became Ant's steady anchor, stepping in to lighten the load when Ant couldn't carry it alone. No grand gestures, only Dec's hand on his shoulder, his quiet presence a silent promise: I'm here, mate. I've got you.

They had a ritual of winding down after each long filming day, stealing moments just for themselves. Some nights, they'd find a quiet corner in a pub, sharing laughs and reminiscing over pints, letting the day's worries melt away. On others, they'd sprawl out in Dec's cosy living room, still in their work clothes, recounting the day's slip-ups and teasing each other about whatever tomorrow might bring. In these moments, time seemed to slow. They weren't TV hosts or celebrities; they were just two friends, connecting in a way that only they could, with an unspoken understanding built over decades spent side-by-side.

More than friends, even more than family, they were a team, and their love for each other needed no words. "He's like a brother," Ant would say, knowing Dec was the kind of friend who could read his mood in a glance, who'd stay by his side no matter what. Dec knew there was no one he trusted more, no one who could make him laugh so easily or who understood him as deeply. When Dec felt the weight of it all-the cameras, the pressure, the constant expectations-Ant would be there with an easy grin, a light-hearted joke, and a nudge toward the pub. And when Ant felt unsteady, Dec would be by his side with a quiet strength, the same way he'd been since those early days on Byker Grove.

Over the years, their friendship revealed its depth through a thousand small gestures: a glance exchanged across a crowded set, a reassuring pat on the shoulder, a playful nudge that broke the tension. They were each other's first defender, the first to cheer each other's successes and the first to help pick up the pieces when things got tough. The demands of their careers felt lighter with the other by their side. In those quiet moments-the clinking of pint glasses, the banter on stage, the silent support backstage-they found comfort, the kind that only true friendship could bring.

Even now, decades later, they still make time for those quiet evenings, laughing and reminiscing like they're still the young lads on Byker Grove. They've weathered more than most friendships ever will, and their bond has only grown stronger, as genuine and unbreakable now as it was back then. There's no need to question it. They know they'll always be there for each other-through every show, every triumph, every hard day. Because they aren't just "Ant and Dec" on stage; they're family in the truest sense, bound by a love that no amount of time or fame could ever change.