Anthony ‘Ant’ David McPartlin is better known as one half of the TV-presenting duo ‘Ant & Dec.’ Initially, he appeared as teenager in children’s TV-show ‘Why Don’t You?’ (1988), ‘Gimme 5’ (1992), ‘The Word’ (1994) and others. His breakthrough role was as ‘PJ’ in teen drama-series ‘Byker Grove’ (1990-1993). He met Declan Donnelly, (who played ‘Duncan’ on series,) and teaming up as ‘PJ & Duncan,’ they recorded several hit numbers.
Later, McPartlin and Donnelly, now rebranded as popular presenter-pair ‘Ant & Dec,’ had their own show ‘The Ant & Dec show’ (1995-1997). Concurrently, McPartlin was guest-presenter on weekday morning TV-program ‘The Big Breakfast’ (1995-1997). In the beginning, McPartlin (with Donnelly) presented several children’s shows such as ‘SMTV Live’ (1998-2001), which was (ITV’s) most popular Saturday morning show, and also, music TV-show ‘CD: UK’ (1998-2001), and ‘Ant & Dec Unzipped’ (1998). In 1999, he was co-presenter of ‘Ant & Dec’s Geordie Christmas.’
Further, McPartlin (and Donnelly) moved on as presenters of game-shows including ‘Friends Like These’ (1999-2001), ‘Ant & Dec’s Game-show Marathon’ (2005), ‘PokerFace’ (2006-2007), ‘Ant & Dec’s Push the Button’ (2010-2011) and ‘Red & Black’ (2011-2012).
McPartlin was co-presenter of annual music-awards, ‘The BRIT Awards’ in 2001, 2015 & 2016, and also music-talent competition series ‘Pop Idol’ (2001-2003). He provided voice-over in pre-school children’s TV-show ‘Engie Benjy’ (2002-2004), and played ‘Terry’ in ‘Tribute to the Lively Lads’ (2002). He appeared in romantic-comedy film ‘Love Actually’ (2003), and sci-fi comedy-film ‘Alien Autopsy” (2006).
Thereafter, McPartlin and Donnelly were creator-presenter of own variety-show ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ (2002-2009), which returned in 2013 after a break of 4 years and proved a major hit (2013-2018, 2020-present). He has been co-presenter of popular survival reality-show ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here’ (2002-2017, 2019-present).
Next, McPartlin was signed as co-presenter of reality talent-show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ (2007-present), a successful series with very high viewership. He also appears on its spinoff, ‘Britain’s Got More Talent.’ He and Donnelly presented charity football-matches ‘Soccer Aid’ (2006, 2008), charity initiative ‘Text Santa’ (2011-2014), and also documentary ‘When Ant & Dec Met The Prince: 40 Years of The Prince’s Trust’ (2016) and live broadcast of ‘The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’ (2016). He appeared as himself in several TV-series and TV-movies.
In 2020, McPartlin (and Donnelly) accomplished Guinness World Record for ‘most NTA for Best Presenter won consecutively.’
