"What Christmas is about"
It's been a busy year for the boys! What with bringing you another smash hit series of Saturday Night Takeaway, getting a nationwide tour under their belts, jetting off for another critter-filled I'm A Celebrity... plus, fronting Britain's Got Talent as well as preparing for The BRITs, Ant & Dec look put their feet up and look ahead to the return of their Text Santa extravaganza.
As they get ready for the crimbo season, Dec reveals how pair always spend the festive period apart so they can head home to visit F&F (aka friends and families!)
“It’s the only time of year we spend apart!” he laughs. “The rest of the year we are together most of the time... but we do always share a quiz! "One tradition we both have every year is a quiz for our family and friends," Dec explains. "Even at Christmas, we are the quizmasters! We do the same quiz for both our families!”
Do they get upset being separated?! “Yes we miss each other SO much,” jokes Dec before adding “Actually, it is quite nice!”
“It is nice to have a break from each other,” laughs Ant.
“I will definitely be back in Newcastle. I love it, “ says Dec. “I have got such a big family and we always have a big get together and a laugh. I am really looking forward to it. It’s the one time in the year when everyone gets together. It’s lovely.”
Before he heads back to Newcastle, both will be hosting the first part of this year’s Text Santa – and they can’t wait!
“It’s our last day of work and there is a really great festive spirit on set,” explains Ant. “It’s the last Friday before Christmas and everyone is breaking up. We really love doing it and we love being part of Text Santa.”
“We like it because we are with our mates,” says Dec. “It is such a lovely atmosphere on the night. This year is going to be great. Wait until you see George Clooney in Downton Abbey!”
This year, both Ant and Dec went to visit a Teenage Cancer Trust unit in London to see first hand how money raised can help so many people. The charity is one of six being represented on Text Santa.
The Saturday Night Takeaway presenters were incredibly moved by their trip. “These kids have had it so tough for so many weeks and months and they love the unit," said Ant. "It was good to see the work the charity do and when we will be hosting Text Santa, we can say ‘we know why you should donate’ as we have seen it first hand. It would be fantastic if we can raise lots of money to build more units.”
I always over-indulge, it has got to be done!
“Our trip made it so poignant for us," adds Dec. "You can’t imagine being told you have got leukaemia at the age of 17.”
On the night itself, Ant and Dec will be up for plenty of laughs, and once they have handed over the reigns to Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, the duo admit that they'll then start enjoying the festive break with a bang!
“We are on first so we get to have the longest party of the night,” jokes Dec. “It’s great fun and we just want to have a laugh. It’s nice to be able to raise money for all the amazing charities.
For both Ant and Dec, Christmas is very much a time to relax and tuck into the turkey.
“I always over-indulge, it has got to be done,” says Ant.
“That’s what Christmas is about,” agrees Dec. “Being together, eating too much turkey and Christmas pudding!”
Yet when it comes to festive TV viewing, Dec is, by far, the bigger telly addict than Ant. “I watch it a lot,” he explains. “I love Christmas telly, I get my annual fix of Morecambe and Wise! It is my favourite time of the year. It is full of joy, people being nice to each other, getting gifts and you are surrounded by friends, family and being with the ones you love most.”
Ant, on the other hand, prefers to listen to some Christmas carols first. “I like having some Christmas music on when I am cooking the turkey,” he reveals. “I do like listening to what the Queen has to say but I don’t tend to watch things until the evening.”
for whether they will be making any New Year resolutions and it is a resounding no.
I love Christmas telly, I get my annual fix of Morecambe and Wise! It is my favourite time of the year. It is full of joy, people being nice to each other, getting gifts and you are surrounded by friends, family and being with the ones you love most.
“I have never kept one and so I am giving up,” explains Ant. “My New Year resolution is to not make a New Year resolution!’ chuckles Dec. “I hope to do that very well!”
And as both Ant and Dec make their final preparations for Text Santa, why would they urge viewers to pick up the phone and donate? “It is a time of year to help others,” says Ant. “The Text Santa charities are all UK ones and they are ones people will have heard of. Anything people can do to help out would be amazing."
Agreeing wholeheartedly, Dec adds: “They all do great work when most of us are, touch wood, having a nice time, surrounded by friends and family. However small a donation, it’s a time when we can help others who maybe aren’t having such a nice time.”
