Ant & Dec partner with Fulwell 73 to reboot teen drama ‘Byker Grove’

Ant & Dec host I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

British TV presenters Ant and Dec are remaking teen drama Byker Grove, the series that launched their careers 30 years ago.

The presenting duo, full names Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, known for hosting shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are developing the reboot via their Mitre Studios, alongside Late Late Show indie Fulwell 73.

Originally broadcast on BBC One between 1989 and 2006, the Newcastle-based show was a coming-of-age series revolving around the members of a youth club, with a young Ant and Dec starring as popular characters PJ and Duncan – under which names they also launched a pop career in the 1990s.

The show, which ran for 18 seasons and was known for its impactful storylines, also saw early performances from future stars including Sons Of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam and Waterloo Road’s Jill Halfpenny.

The reboot, which will be titled Byker, is not attached to a broadcaster and is being aimed at a primetime audience to “engage with a new generation of teenagers navigating the different challenges faced by young adults today.” Fulwell 73’s Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood will serve as executive producers, alongside Ant and Dec who will also act as creative consultants.

“We owe such a lot to Byker Grove and the North East so we can’t wait to start working with Fulwell 73 and the team to bring this iconic series back to life,” said McPartlin.