ANT AND DEC SIGN NEW ITV DEAL CONFIRMING FUTURE WITH BROADCASTER UNTIL 2028

Ant and Dec have officially secured their future at ITV after signing a new long-term deal that will keep them on the channel until the end of 2028, marking an extraordinary 30 years with the broadcaster.

The award-winning presenters, who are widely regarded as the most successful double act in British television history, have agreed a new multi-million-pound “golden handcuffs” contract that extends their relationship with ITV three decades after they first joined the channel. The pair originally arrived at ITV in 1998 to host the hugely popular Saturday morning show SM:TV Live, which quickly became a defining programme for a generation.

Under the terms of the new deal, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will continue to front ITV’s biggest and most reliable entertainment hits. In 2026 and beyond, viewers can expect to see them return with Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, Britain’s Got Talent and the long-running jungle juggernaut I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which remains one of the channel’s highest-rated programmes.

Announcing the agreement, Ant said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be continuing our long-standing and creative partnership with our friends at ITV.”

Dec echoed the sentiment, adding:
“We’re so lucky to work on some of the biggest and best TV shows and we’re proud of what we have achieved together with ITV over the years. We’re excited for the future and looking forward to making more great entertainment together.”

The new contract reportedly runs into many millions of pounds and is believed to be similar in value to their previous three-year deals, which were estimated at around £30 million. While ITV has not confirmed the exact figure, the investment reflects the duo’s continued ability to deliver huge audiences and consistent ratings success.

Ant and Dec’s partnership with ITV has become one of the most enduring and profitable relationships in British television. Since their SM:TV days, the pair have gone on to dominate prime-time schedules, becoming the trusted faces of family entertainment for more than two decades. Their chemistry, warmth and self-deprecating humour have helped them remain relevant across generations.

Their success is reflected in an astonishing awards haul. During their time at ITV, Ant and Dec have won 48 National Television Awards, including a record-breaking run in the Best Presenter category, as well as 18 BAFTA Television Awards. Their popularity has shown little sign of fading, with viewers continuing to vote for them year after year.

The duo’s continued presence also provides ITV with a sense of stability at a time when the television industry is undergoing rapid change. With streaming platforms competing for viewers and traditional broadcasters adapting their schedules, Ant and Dec remain a guaranteed draw for live audiences, something increasingly valuable in modern television.

Their latest deal confirms that ITV sees the presenters as central to its future strategy, particularly when it comes to large-scale entertainment formats that bring families together. Shows like Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity continue to perform strongly in the ratings, often dominating social media conversation and delivering memorable TV moments.

As they approach their 30th anniversary with ITV, Ant and Dec show no signs of slowing down. Instead, the new deal suggests there is still plenty more to come from a partnership that has become a cornerstone of British television.

For viewers who have grown up watching them, from Saturday mornings in the late 1990s to prime-time entertainment today, the news confirms that Ant and Dec will remain a familiar and reassuring presence on ITV screens for years to come.