Ant and Dec are both over the moon to be bringing Byker Grove back to TV, over 30 years since it shot them to TV fame. And the duo have been confirmed to have a key role in the reboot, as executive producers.
It was back in the early 90s that the CBBC show made a young Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly two of the most recognisable faces on children's TV, with their characters PJ and Duncan at the centre of the action in the Newcastle based show, which focused on a youth club on Tyneside and the antics of the youngsters who attended it.
Viewers who grew up in the 90s will remember the Grove's fierce rivalry with enemy Denton Burn, the club's no nonsense leader Geoff and Byker Grove's most memorable scene ever, when Ant's character PJ was blinded during a paintball game; prompting Dec to shout that instantly famous line: "He can't see man!"
READ MORE: Byker Grove to return to TV with new name and Ant and Dec on board
Other big names like Denise Welch, Charlie Hunnam, Donna Air and Jill Halfpenny were all members of the Byker Grove cast and fans will now be hoping for some cameos in the reboot, which will be called BYKER and be brought to screens by Ant and Dec's Mitre Studios and Sunderland based company Fulwell 73, who have tasted national and international success with shows like Sunderland Til I Die and the Friends Reunion.
Ecstatic to be bringing back the show that started his and best mate Ant's careers all those years ago, Dec commented: "Byker Grove will always be very special to us as the show which gave us our break, so we are beyond excited to be working together with Fulwell 73 on bringing it back. We are looking forward to bringing this fresh incarnation to a whole new generation as well as those who remember it as fondly as we do. "
He added: "As proud Geordies, we’re looking forward to help shine a spotlight on the North East and the talent the region has to offer both in front of the camera and behind it."
Just as excited: Ant said: "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. Already talking characters and storylines has us all buzzing at the possibilities ahead. The original series was the starting point for a lot of North East talent so we're excited to see what the new team will bring."
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