‘Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ is on the hunt for a new Little Ant and Dec for the show's upcoming 20th series.
Ant and Dec are looking for a new Little Ant and Dec pairing
The long-running ITV1 programme is searching for a pair of mini me versions of the iconic presenting duo, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 47, and the successful candidates will need to have a similar North East twang to the 'I'm A Celebrity' co-hosts as well as “confident” and cheeky” attitudes.
ITV said: “We are on the lookout for our new Little Ant and Dec to take part in the next series of ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’!
"We are looking for confident, cheeky chatty boys with a Geordie accent between the ages of 5-7 who think they could be the next Little Ant and Dec!”
The production is urging parents and legal guardians of such “cheeky chappies” to put them forward along with a video showcasing “their personality”.
Ant and Dec, who recently revealed the upcoming series of the entertainment show will be their last for a while, previously enlisted the talents of youngsters James Pallister and Dylan McKenna to be Little Ant and Dec in 2003.
The pair were nine years old, and they were later replaced Neil Overend and Haydn Reid, after the original twosome grew too old and too tall for the gig.
Speaking about a 2013 reunion with Ant and Dec, Dylan told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s always good to see Ant and Dec again. They were shocked when they saw us, it’s been a few years since we have caught up and we are much taller!
"It was a really good experience. Me and James used to joke with Ant and Dec. They were great teachers! Looking back, I guess we were able to be more naughty and cheeky than they would have got away with."
Last year, it was reported Neil and Haydn were also moving on.
An insider told the Daily Star newspaper: "Little Ant and Dec have outgrown the role, quite literally, and as such won't be returning to the show this year.
“Little Dec has his SATs next year and Little Ant is moving to high school so it felt like the right time for them to move on and focus on their studies."
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