Latest news with #AntandDec
Metro
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fans 'in love' as they cancel plans to binge iconic 90s TV series
Byker Grove fans have been spending their weekends binging the iconic drama, which is now available to stream for the first time ever. The children's soap opera, which originally aired between 1989 and 2006, was added to STV Player earlier this month. It's just the latest in a long line of cult series that have been added to the Scottish streamer, joining Brookside, Take The High Road and New Zealand hit Shortland Street. Byker launched the careers of some of telly's biggest names including Ant and Dec and Jill Halfpenny, as well as Hollywood star Charlie Hunnam. The show follows the daily exploits of the children and staff who frequent a fictional youth club in the Byker district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Groundbreaking for the time, storylines included teenage pregnancy, homelessness, drug abuse and the first gay kiss on children's television. The scene, which saw Noddy Fishwick (Brett Adams) peck Gary Hendrix (George Trotter) on the cheek, saw calls for executive producer Matthew Robinson to lose his job. It's without a doubt that the best remembered episode concerns Ant McPartlin's character PJ being blinded in both eyes with a paintball gun. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Now, fans have flocked to social media to share their delight at the Grove's return to our screens, with one saying they were going to binge the episodes across a weekend. Emma said she was 'going to watch them all' after losing track in adulthood. 'Has anyone else let their kids watch it yet? I let my son (13) watch this morning for the first time, he has fallen in love with it,' asked Lee. In response, Raymond said: 'My kids are 12 and 16 and they love it. I live in Newcastle so I like to look at how things have changed from when I was young.' Superfan Zoe, who travelled seven hours to visit the show's filming location – a former tower house and pub which is now an Islamic school – added: 'Sadly, my kids just think it's really lame and old fashioned.' You can't please everyone! Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! Despite that, she might've made a breakthrough: 'Since I've started re-watching Byker Grove, my youngest has asked when we're going back to Newcastle.' 'Watching this as an adult brings a whole different perspective,' she continued, reflecting on a story that saw siblings Spuggie (Lyndann Barrass) and Fraser Campbell (John Jefferson) in care. More Trending 'Back then I thought the adults were being unreasonable.' Iain agreed: 'The storyline about Fraser's family life was really hard hitting. Never appreciated this at the time I watched it originally. 'Suppose that's what made it a really good programme as it didn't shy away from those issues.' View More » Series 1-13 of Byker Grove is available to stream on STV Player now , with further series coming soon. MORE: 90s Nintendo classic Mario Paint is now on Switch 2 with mouse controls MORE: Star Wars is getting a new trigger warning 26 years later MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as 90s legend returns to Ramsay Street
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Satander cuts more than 2,000 UK jobs — with more potentially on the way
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SANTANDER has cut more than 2,000 UK jobs as part of major restructuring — with more redundancies potentially on the way. Boss Mike Regnier said the cuts are part of a push to simplify operations and invest in tech, as more customers move to online banking. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Santander has cut more than 2,000 UK jobs Credit: Getty Last October, the bank, which has used TV's Ant and Dec in its ads, had announced its intention to cut more than 1,400 jobs. It then warned a further 750 were at risk after revealing in March it was closing 95 branches and reducing hours at 50 sites. Its Spanish parent firm recently struck a £2.65billion deal to acquire rival TSB, raising speculation about further job losses and branch closures. Mr Regnier said no decisions have been made as the deal is not yet finalised, but it is expected to be complete by early next year. The bank reported a five per cent drop in pre-tax profits to £764million for the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, HSBC revealed a 26 per cent drop in pre-tax profits for the same period. It blamed the fall on trade tensions and a £1.6billion hit from its Chinese investments, as well as selling off its operations in both Canada and Argentina. HSBC has saved £524million as part of its cost- cutting plan, targeting £1.1billion annually by 2027. Boss Georges Elhedery said the bank has started reviews of its retail banking businesses in Australia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. What Does My Tax Code Mean? A Simple Guide to Your HMRC Letter 2 Santander previously used Ant and Dec in its ads Credit: Santander HMRC REFUNDS MORE than 500,000 people have claimed refunds for overpaid tax on pension withdrawals since Pension Freedoms began in 2015, HMRC figures show. Almost £1.5billion has been returned to those overcharged after being given an 'emergency tax code' when cashing in lump sums. As retirees must fill out forms to get refunds sooner, critics say the process prioritises HMRC convenience over those affected. BEER SAMPLES PUB giant Greene King is offering samples of a new beer in three-inch glasses so punters can try before they buy. Drinkers can request a taster of the brewer's Hazy Day Fruity IPA to decide if it's for them before paying out for a full pint. It comes after a poll found that 70 per cent of pubgoers do not ask to taste an beer before paying — with nearly a third of adults under 28 too nervous to ask. SAINSBURY'S BANK SALE SAINSBURY'S has taken another major step in winding down its banking arm — selling its car and home insurance business to Allianz and its travel money operations to Fexco Group. It follows last year's sale of loans, mortgages and savings to Natwest, as Sainsbury's shifts focus to its groceries. Thousands of insurance customers on auto-renew policies will be transferred to Allianz from November and travel money kiosks will stay open under Fexco. Pet and life insurance are Sainsbury's only products left but are set to be sold. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ant and Dec strip down to their boxers as they reveal their very surprising new career move
Ant and Dec stripped down to their boxers to announce their surprising new career move with a small Northern business. The presenting duo, both 49, stripped in honour of their collaboration with Northern Dough Co. - a pizza dough company that allows people to enjoy restaurant-quality food at home. The Britain's Got Talent presenters have made no secret of their love of the North of England so it is no surprise they reached out to the company and suggested a collaboration. They went on to jokingly strip down to their boxers as they announced that their act would now include a third party who was 'dependable, consistent and ready when you need them.' Dec said 'they will rise to any occasion' before joking that they would be 'ideally so chilled they are frozen'. 'After decades as a duo. We've invited someone else in. Meet our new partner,' Dec said, 'Northern Dough Co.' Ant went on to joke: 'They've got lovely balls of dough. Look at them. Beautiful.' Dec added: 'Cool. Clam. Always ready to deliver,' before Ant stressed: 'Just like us.' Referencing the fact that the pair had stripped to their boxers, Ant said: 'It's restaurant quality pizza at home. Without putting your trousers on.' Dec joked: 'Oh! That's what this is. I thought we were just getting comfy for pizza.' The pair went on to praise the at-home pizza-making kit. However, Dec admitted that he did feel a bit cold at this point and asked Ant if he could finally put his trousers back on. Ant said: 'I love making pizzas at home with my family and was already using Northern Dough Co when we started conversations with Amy & Chris about working with them. 'As soon as we met it was clear we had the same values and together we have some great ideas on how we can expand the business, it's very exciting and we can't wait to get started in our role as co-owners!' Dec added: 'We love the Northern Dough Co.'s ethos of celebrating the joy of eating at home and bringing people together.' 'Whether it's a pizza party with mates or a Saturday night in front of the telly with your granny, everyone can get stuck in and make delicious pizzas.' Northern Dough Co. founders, Amy and Chris Cheadle, said: 'It's not every day Ant & Dec 's team drop you a line to ask if you'd be interested in exploring working together. 'But from the very first meeting it was clear just how well their personal values aligned with ours. 'And how easy it would be to partner and grow our business together.'
STV News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Ant and Dec drama Byker Grove returns to screens for first time on STV Player
Byker Grove is available to stream for the first time ever on STV Player. The hard hitting teen drama series is known for launching the careers of Ant and Dec as well as featuring the first-ever gay kiss on UK children's TV. Described at the time as a trailblazer, Byker Grove became a much-loved staple of after-school viewing for millions of teenagers after its launch on BBC One in 1989. Set in the Byker area of Newcastle, the series follows the lives and relationships of a group of young people who spend their downtime at local youth club, the Grove. Byker Grove was renowned for tackling challenging social issues, such as drug addiction, child abuse, homophobia and abortion. The series has been off air for 20 years but is now available to stream across the UK on STV Player—and later this year on ITVX—as part of a co-exclusivity deal with the Ant and Dec's production company Mitre Studios. The show catapulted the duo's careers whose Byker characters, PJ & Duncan, were two of the show's most popular and even went on to enjoy chart success with eight top 20 singles, including the number one, Let's Get Ready to Rhumble. Richard Williams, STV's Managing Director, Audience: Video & Technology, said: 'Just when you thought the 90s revival might have been slowing down, we've only gone and brought back one of the seminal TV shows of the decade. 'Byker Grove was an integral part of so many British childhoods and we're delighted that those original viewers – now of a slightly more mature vintage – can relive all the nostalgic action on STV Player. And if any Gen Z viewers want to find out who really started the baggy trousers trend, look no further than Byker Grove!' Ed Sleeman, Managing Director at Mitre Studios added: 'We're delighted to be teaming up with ITVX and STV Player to give a new generation of viewers the opportunity to watch this iconic series from the start and to see where it all began for Ant & Dec.' The show also served as a major training ground for both on-screen and off-screen talent, including Jill Halfpenny, Donna Air and writer Catherine Johnson, who later wrote the hit musical Mamma Mia!. Stream all episodes of Byker Grove now on STV Player. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Byker Grove makes surprise return to screens after 20 years with Ant and Dec
Byker Grove has been added to ITVX and STV after 20 years off our screens - and fans will be able to stream the iconic teen drama in full for free. The classic BBC show launched the careers of Ant and Dec, Jill Halfpenny and Donna Air when it first aired in 1989. Now, ITV has announced that it is adding Byker Grove to its streaming library, with the series arriving on ITVX later this year. Craig Morris, Managing Editor, ITV Channels & ITVX, said: 'We are so excited to bring this iconic coming-of-age series to ITVX, marking the first TV appearances of two ITV stalwarts. Relive all the great moments with us later this year.'
