Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s lookalike pair faced an unexpected exit despite their considerable achievements. In 2003, the popular hosts from Newcastle set out to find younger versions of themselves for the second season of their hit show, Saturday Night Takeaway.
James Pallister played Little Ant, and Dylan McKenna-Redshaw portrayed Little Dec when they were just nine years old. While on the show, the boys interviewed notable figures like Tony Blair, Will Smith, Katie Price, and David Beckham.
Their memorable moments included convincing celebrities to engage in funny acts, such as Katie Price wearing a fat suit, Ewan McGregor teaching bagpipe playing, and Hugh Grant sporting oversized ears. During a shopping outing with Victoria Beckham, they humorously tried to recruit her son Brooklyn for Newcastle United.
However, their time on the show ended abruptly in 2006 due to their growth spurt, making them no longer suitable for their roles. When ITV wanted to revive the mini-duo, James and Dylan had already matured, leading to their replacement by Neil Overend and Haydn Reid in 2013.
Both James and Dylan, hailing from the North East, have since pursued diverse career paths and transformed significantly from their TV days. James found success as a vehicle technician for BMW and later transitioned to the RAC, where he has held a position for over ten years, now focusing on health and safety. Meanwhile, Dylan launched his own nutrition business, specializing in weight loss, muscle gain, and sports performance, showcasing his impressive physique on Instagram.
In an interview, James expressed his love for his work, highlighting the satisfaction of helping people with car troubles. The duo reunited with Ant and Dec over drinks in 2013. Dylan shared that they had grown taller over the years, reminiscing about their fun times on the show.
Ant and Dec announced in May 2023 that the 2024 season of Saturday Night Takeaway would be their last. They emphasized the importance of spending time with family over continuing with the show. Ant welcomed a baby boy named Wilder in May 2024, and their final episode attracted a substantial viewership of 5.3 million.
For those interested, Dylan offers personal coaching sessions on his Instagram and website, The Power Effect, where he assists individuals in achieving their fitness goals.