"Well
probably get loads of letters from angry mums!"
The Geordie boys are back! Theyve got a new show Unzipped
, and a new single, Shout . We catch up with the
phenomenon that is Ant & Dec
Weve heard your new show
is a little bit on the mad side!
Ant - Well, it is a bit! Its similar to the last show, with
us in our flat. The set is great, with our bedroom, living room,
kitchen, bathroom and Decs study. As usual we always have a
nice girl on the show and try and get off with her!
Dec - We never do, though - it always goes horribly wrong! This
show is a cross between a sit-com and a panto, which makes it
very weird at times!
Is it a bit more naughty?
Dec - Yeah, it is a bit. We get to say words that we
couldnt before because its on later at night! Our
imaginations have run riot, a bit like us!
Ant - Theres a part of the show called Learn To Swear With
Ant & Dec, which parents will love. Well probably get
loads of letters from angry mums.
Its been said that Chris
Evans didnt want your show on the same night as his -
whys that?
Dec - I dunno! Maybe hes
a bit scared that were funnier! I dont think Chris
likes us much, but the feelings kind of mutual!
Ant - I dont even know if thats true, but if it is
its silly. The show isnt there to challenge TFI or
steal its viewers. Its a different kind of show, but I
doubt hell be inviting us on!
Dec - Thats OK, cause hes not getting involved
in ours!
Is making the show fun?
Ant - We do have a laugh!
Its us being ourselves in front of the camera, and
were such good mates itll always be fun.
Dec - We get into trouble sometimes because we forget we have
radio mics on, which means when were off set everyone can
still hear us. We have been known to utter the odd sweary, but
thats because were from a part of the world where
chaps do that sometimes!
You both still have very strong
Geordie accents.
Ant - Do we?! Thats
weird, because we went home and all our mates were saying,
"Listen to you, speaking like a Southerner!" Then when
we came back everyone thought we had strong accents again!
What are your fave Geordie
sayings?
Ant - I like Divi
kna, which means I dont know, and
Ee Hey which sort of means Oh dear!
Dec - My favourite is Canny which can mean a lot of
things, like, That was a canny song, meaning
great, or Go canny, meaning Be
careful.
At this point Ant spots a
famous actress on the other side of the canteen!
Ant - Oh, Dec man,
theres Judi Dench over there!
Dec - Its mad working on TV, yknow - we see famous
people all the time. I saw Dawn French in the queue for tea the
other day!
But you guys are famous too!
Ant - We never think of
ourselves as famous, though. Were just lucky enough to do a
job we love.
Dec - There are loads of people who were not even nearly as
famous as. Id consider us well known rather than famous!
Are you rich yet?
Dec - Er, well weve got a bit of money, but I dont
know if were rich
Ant - Weve more money than we used to have. We dont
spend it all on fancy stuff like famous people are meant to,
though. I bought a quilt the other day, which is the sort of
thing I spend money on. And CDs!
Dec - I went out and bought a brand new set of bed sheets last
week. Not very exciting, I know, but Ive been after a new
set for ages!
Whats it like sharing a
flat together in real life?
Dec - Well, we come to work
with our scripts in a school bag and swot up on our lines -
its like coming back to school! Then we work all day and go
home, drop our bags at the door and play on our Play Station all
night - its brilliant!
Ant - We do have a real laugh, though. Working is a bit like
going to school, and when we come home we just much about a lot!
Tell us about the new single,
Shout.
Ant - Its a bit
different, but thats not because were trying to be,
we just thought it was a really good song. We co-wrote it with a
guy weve never worked with before and it sounded great.
Dec - When we were thinking about the video some people thought
it should be a big, dramatic, serious affair, but thats
just not us. Its not a huge change of direction of us
trying to be some arty-farty types - we just liked the song,
simple as that!
What sort of music are you into
at the moment?
Ant - I really like the new
Blur single, and an old Sixties singer called Donovan. Ask
your folks about him!
Dec - The Spice Girls are quite good. We met them when we
presented a TV awards show and we got on well. We were waiting to
be spiced, but it never seemed to happen. Im still not sure
what that actually involves, but it sounds good!
If there was an Ant & Dec
movie, what would it be like?
Ant - Id love to do a classic road movie where me and Dec
travel through America on bikes and get ourselves into all kinds
of bother, or maybe a Sixties type adventure movie with a
great soundtrack. Actually theres a song on our new album
called Cult Of Ant & Dec that would be perfect for that -
look out for it!
Dec - Itd be great to have classic actors like Michael
Caine in it - we could just get all our heroes on! Of course, it
would always have to be a comedy, cause we love having a
laugh!
Words by Paul Smernicki Taken from TV Hits magazine - March 1997 issue 91
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