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Ant and Dec land '£30 million golden handcuffs deal' to stay with ITV

Ant and Dec are said to be on the verge of signing a major new deal with ITV credit:Bang Showbiz
Ant and Dec are said to be on the verge of signing a major new deal with ITV credit:Bang Showbiz

Ant and Dec have reportedly landed a £30 million "golden handcuffs" deal to keep them on ITV.

The Geordie duo - made up on Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 46, - have long been regulars on ITV, fronting shows including "I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!' and 'Britain's Got Talent' and the new deal would see them stay with the broadcaster for another three years.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "It would see them through to their 50th birthdays as two of the best paid stars on television. They both still seem to have the Midas touch when it comes to making programmes.

“Keeping them on board is a shrewd move for ITV, who view them as their two biggest stars - with no sign that’s going to change in the near future."

The Sun adds that ITV bosses are aware there is the potential that big stars like Ant and Dec could be lured away by big money deals with streaming services, so they are keen to splash out to keep them.

A spokesman for ITV said: "We don’t comment on talent contracts."

Ant and Dec's latest venture for the channel came on Sunday night (15.05.22) as they helped kick off Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with a TV event on ITV.

The pair previously helped front coverage of a gig celebrating the monarch's 90th birthday back in 2016, and they revealed Her Majesty had specifically requested them.

Speaking on 'The Graham Norton Show, the pair revealed that they were asked to host the event because the Queen had wanted them.

They said: "Apparently she’s asked for us to do it. We don’t really know how it happened but can only imagine she’s called Charles and asked if he knew anyone that could do it?

"And he’s said, 'I’ve just met a couple of lads who’ve been following me around for a year.'"

The duo had previously worked with Prince Charles filming ITV's 'When Ant Dec Met the Prince: 40 Years of The Prince's Trust'.