Laying It All Out

The Strength of Each Other

Simon Hattenstone had been selected as the reporter that would get the exclusive a lot of his peers wanted. Ant and Dec had chosen him as the one to interview them. This interview was a big deal. This was going to be the first time that they have given a joint interview since all the crap happened, from Ant's first trip to rehab to the car accident and taking 10 months off. Simon knew that it was going to be a very emotional interview and he felt honored that they trusted him with this. He knew that Ant had talked to Dan Wootton with the Sun after the first return from rehab and then back in January before his return to BGT auditions. Both interviews had been revealing in what was going on with Ant. But had only vaguely touched on Dec. A lot of people wanted to hear Dec's side of the story. 

Simon had been told by their PR person, that they might need breaks during the interview, which was completely understandable. The interview was going to take place at an apartment that the Guardian uses for such things. It gives some privacy and space to do the photo shoot. Simon got there early, as he always does whenever he is interviewing someone. He likes to make sure that everything is together and set up before everyone else shows up. He places his notepad and tape recorder on the coffee table. He brings out a tissue box from the bathroom because he knows they are going to need it. Next to arrive is the photographer, David Vintiner. They had worked together many times before and Simon knew that some great photos would come out of this. There was a huge bedroom that had been converted to a photo studio and David set up in there. Last to arrive, of course, were Ant and Dec. 

They had both woken up that morning really anxious. This was going to be a really tough day and that's saying a lot because they both have gone through hell and back over the past year. Dec especially was feeling it as he hadn't opened up about how what had happened to Ant had affected him. Ant had given 2 interviews already about all this. Although they hadn't been as deep as this one likely was going to be. Dec had woken up at about 2 in the morning and hadn't been able to fall back to sleep. Thoughts just kept turning over and over in his head. Dec was tired of talking about the past year, he just wanted to put it all behind them and move on. Ant was back, healthier and happier than Dec had seen him in a long time. They had filmed the auditions and BGT was about to air.

That's mostly why they had decided that this was the time to do the interview. And then hopefully the public could put it to rest. Dec was more concerned what affect this interview was going to have on Ant. He didn't want it to become too much for him. He knew that Simon had been told that they might be needing breaks. Dec knew that they would. He was going to be watching Ant, and any moment that he sensed that it was getting too much for him, Dec was going to call for a break. 

Ant had pretty much the same mindset. He knew that this was a big deal for Dec. They are both very private people, but because of what had happened to him, that privacy had become less. That is the main reason he hardly talked about Dec when he had given the interviews with Dan. It wasn't his story to tell. Yes it involved him, but it was Dec's to tell. He also knew that the paparazzi had made Dec's (and Ali's) life hell. He couldn't go anywhere without them chasing them. It used to never be that bad. And Ant blamed himself. If he hadn't crashed his car while drunk, then they wouldn't be in this spot. It was something that he was going to have to carry for the rest of his life. The fact that he broke his promise to Dec. The fact that he caused distress to two families. The fact that there are people out there that won't let him forget was he has done. Yes, he has come a long way in the past year, but it was constantly a work in progress. And just like Dec, he hopes that this interview will give some closure to all this.

Simon automatically could sense that they both were anxious about the interview when they came in. He thought that maybe it would be a great idea to do the photo session first, give them some time to regroup and relax a little. David took them to the photo room and showed them the area with the clothes. They took turns changing in the en suite. Then David proceeded to get the shots he wanted. All the while Ant and Dec laughed and smiled and finally relaxed. But once they had gotten all the photos they needed, that anxiety built right back up. Especially when Simon turned on his tape recorder. This just got real, Dec thought. They were really going to talk about the past year.