UK’s longest-running presenting duo revealed after building £124,000,000 net-worth

Presenting duos can be very lucrative (Picture: REX / Getty)

There are a few special TV presenting duos that have been able to capitalise on their chemistry to make great TV and earn plenty of money.

Over the years, we’ve been witness to many different partnerships. There are the ones still in the honeymoon period, such as Will Best and AJ Odudu on Big Brother, while others are more fleeting flings – Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding on The Great British Bake Off was short but sweet.

However, one, in particular, has stood out and proved its staying power – we’re of course talking about Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

Let’s find out just how they’ve managed to become a huge part of the British TV landscape and why working together is so important for their brand…

Ant and Dec’s winning formula

Starting out on Byker Grove in 1989, they quickly pivoted from acting to presenting five years later with the Saturday morning children’s show Gimme 5 on ITV. 

Ant and Dec have made a fortune together (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Saturday Night Takeaway and Limitless Win are just some of the shows that have made them household names. Finding somebody in the UK who hasn’t enjoyed, or at least seen, an Ant and Dec show is harder than locating a four-leaf clover at this point.

The easy chemistry that comes from their authentic friendship has meant the British public is far from tired of them – they’ve won the National Television Award for most popular TV presenter 23 times!

It’s almost unimaginable to picture Dec without Ant, both 49, (although we had to for a brief period in 2018), and without their winning combination it’s unlikely they’d ever have made so much money.

‘Our whole career has been built on our friendship,’ Dec stated to Fault magazine.

‘That’s one thing that I think sets us apart a little bit – we have a career that’s built on friendship, not a friendship that’s built on a career. It’s a very significant difference.’

Ant weighed in: ‘There’s not very much of that around. I think that’s partly why people enjoy watching what we do – everybody’s got a best friend. I think people see themselves and their best friends reflected in us.’

Their USP has been reflected in very healthy bank statements – they have a combined net worth of £124 million, reports The Sun.

The pair are so aware of their need for each other that they have taken out insurance that protects them in the worst-case scenario. ‘I just know that if he, Ant, kicks the bucket, I get a massive payout. I don’t know how much,’ Dec revealed to the Evening Standard in 2012.

Ant added: ‘We have people who look after that. I don’t think we’re insured if we fall out, though.’

Who are the other longest-running TV duos? Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer (2000-) They can’t find dream homes if not competing against each other (Picture: Channel 4)

Their TV marriage is so strong that some people have in the past falsely believed that Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp actually live in holey matrimony.

Happily married to other people they may be, but their purely platonic relationship has served them well.

They’ve been helping house-hunters find their dream gaff since the millennium on Location, Location, Location, and have riffed off into Love It or List It too. Over two decades in, they are still competitive with each other to be the person credited with finding the best house, which has given us hundreds of entertaining episodes.

It may be surprising to some that before the start of their TV careers, they didn’t know each other at all, instead they were put together and much to the producers’ delight, magic happened.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (2014-) Tess and Claudia balance each other out (Picture: BBC Studios)

It takes two to tango and not many do it better than Strictly’s Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

When the late great Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped away from the series, the task of replacing him on Strictly was huge. Going for a different vibe entirely, Claudia brings some edginess to the glittery proceedings. Claudia’s quick wit perfectly combines with Tess’s more straight-down-the-line approach.

They adore working together so much that they’ve vowed that they’ll never do the show without each other. When one of the Waltzes away, the other will be Quickstepping right behind them and through the fire exit door.

Claudia has her own lane too with The Traitors but seeing her reunited with Tess each autumn has become a significant part of the UK’s TV calender.

Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong (2009-) Alexander and Richard still appear together on Celebrity Pointless (Credits: David Hartley/REX/Shutterstock)

Students together at the prestigious Cambridge University, Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong instantly hit it off. Their friendship was introduced to the world on Pointless in 2009, and their shared geeky sense of humour (complimentary) helped to make the ITV gameshow a success.

Richard, who created the format, left the main show after 1,300 episodes and nearly 30 series in 2022 to focus on other projects. However, the small-screen duo still get back together for the celebrity specials so all is not lost.

Former long-running TV partnerships

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford (2006-2021)

The couple co-hosted This Morning together for 15 years. Fans hoping to see them back on the sofa together may want to get a new dream as they are currently going through a divorce.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby (2006-2023)

The duo began on Dancing On Ice, and ventured out to This Morning. It all came to a dramatic end when Phil, who admitted to lying about an affair with a much younger colleague, and ITV ended their working relationship. The friendship didn’t continue with Phil even making thinly-veiled digs at his former bestie.

Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan (2015-2021)

Piers met his match in Susanna, who stood her ground against him on Good Morning Britain. Viewers loved their dynamic but it was all over when Piers stormed off set during a heated discussion about Meghan Markle. He’s since said he is disappointed that he didn’t get more support.

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan (1988-2009)

Married couple Richard and Judy were barely off TV screens for a good two-decade run. They presented ITV’s This Morning before moving on to Richard & Judy, before finally taking on Richard and Judy’s New Position on Watch. Due to dwindling ratings, it came to an end in 2009.

Unlike the others, Richard and Judy very much still have a relationship. They remain married and did make a brief appearance on daughter Chloe Madeley’s ITV reality show. Perhaps one day they could bring their chemistry back to a TV set. For now, Richard is on GMB and Judy tends to remain further back from the spotlight.

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins (1996-) Mel and Sue were university friends (Picture: © BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon)

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, never Sue and Mel, also met as students at Cambridge University.

They first appeared on TV in the sketch show French and Saunders in 1996, with both also contributing to the writing. One year later, they got their big break as presenters, landing Channel 4 daytime comedy chatshow Light Lunch (later called Late Lunch). The pair got their biggest gig – The Great British Bake Off – in 2010 and stayed put for seven years. Their innuendo-filled style set the tone for the successful cookery show.

Their most recent joint project was an acting endeavour when they costarred as contract killers in the Sky/Peacock comedy series Hitmen between 2020 and 2021.

Although not currently on our screens together, they have not ended their working relationship. ‘We’re each the trampoline upon which the other one bounces,’ Sue once told The Guardian. Mel called their relationship ‘blooming special’, adding: ‘When we work together, we revert to being 19 again, which is bloody annoying for anyone around us because we’ve so much shared history and comedy.’

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville (2014-) The former rivals work together well (Picture: Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)

Throughout their playing career, footballers Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were on rival teams. They may have been against each other when playing for Liverpool and Manchester United but now things are very different.

Sky Sports scored a winning goal when they placed them together, and their football coverage is now considered to be one of the best.

Their analytical assessment of the matches and fun banter has made them indispensable to the channel. Sweetly, they’ve also formed a real-world friendship with Jamie stating that they are barely off the phone from each other.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.