Media
Ant and Dec have signed a new multi-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV.
The deal, which runs until the end of 2009, is reported to be valued in the region of £40m for the pair. Such figures would put Ant and Dec up with Simon Cowell and Jonathan Ross as some of the highest-paid personalities appearing on UK television. Financial terms of the deal have, however, not been disclosed by ITV.
"Ant and Dec have become synonymous with ITV and they have played a huge role in making the channel the home of entertainment programming in the UK," said ITV director of television Simon Shaps.
Last week, ITV executive chairman Michael Grade said the deal was "very important" to the broadcaster.
"Ant and Dec are undoubtedly the nation's favourite TV presenters with an incredible amount of talent and appeal for ITV's viewers," said ITV director of entertainment and comedy Paul Jackson. "To be able to continue working with them exclusively is an absolute delight and we're looking forward to building upon existing formats and developing some exciting new ones over the next two years."
It is understood that the pair flew back from the US, where they had been filming a pilot for a new ABC game show, to finalise the deal.
The deal, which runs until the end of 2009, is reported to be valued in the region of £40m for the pair. Such figures would put Ant and Dec up with Simon Cowell and Jonathan Ross as some of the highest-paid personalities appearing on UK television. Financial terms of the deal have, however, not been disclosed by ITV.
"Ant and Dec have become synonymous with ITV and they have played a huge role in making the channel the home of entertainment programming in the UK," said ITV director of television Simon Shaps.
Last week, ITV executive chairman Michael Grade said the deal was "very important" to the broadcaster.
"Ant and Dec are undoubtedly the nation's favourite TV presenters with an incredible amount of talent and appeal for ITV's viewers," said ITV director of entertainment and comedy Paul Jackson. "To be able to continue working with them exclusively is an absolute delight and we're looking forward to building upon existing formats and developing some exciting new ones over the next two years."
It is understood that the pair flew back from the US, where they had been filming a pilot for a new ABC game show, to finalise the deal.
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