ITV boss: 'Ant & Dec are irreplaceable'

ITV's director of television has branded Ant & Dec as irreplaceable.

Speaking to The Mirror, Peter Fincham suggested that there were no other presenters who could emulate the success and characteristics of the Newcastle-born pair.

"They're young and the audience loves them. They cannot be immediately substituted with two other Geordie guys of the same age - they are Ant and Dec, they are stars," he explained.

"We will nurture that relationship carefully and make sure ITV is there for them to try the things that they want to do."

He went on to say that ITV was "working on a new show" with the duo which will be transmitted early next year, and that the future of Saturday Night Takeaway would be decided then.

"They are central to what we do in entertainment and, outside of Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity... there's plenty in the rest of the calendar where we have an appetite for more Ant and Dec."

Fincham also defended the massive paychecks awarded to top ITV talent, saying the company "believed on having the best people on screen" and that the channel's ratings proved that.