From the day gritty teen drama
Byker Grove first hit our screens in 1989 to dominating the ITV entertainment
schedule, two cheeky chaps have held the nations hearts in their hands.
The show that launched their
careers was groundbreaking and the story of PJ, played by Ant McPartlin, losing
his sight during a game of paintball was a memorable telly moment. The firm
friends from the screen then kept their names from the show to kick off their
pop career, and PJ and Duncan were high in the charts for a few years.
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Then came the presenting work and
over the past two decades, Ant and Dec have risen in their status as the golden
boys of telly. Big grins, shiny faces and an equally squeaky clean image.
Because, of course, to be the poster boys of one of the biggest national
broadcasters is to have a wholesome family friendly image.
Three key things have been central
to Ant and Dec’s success; they have always been a duo, and never booked and
worked as individuals unless one has been unwell; they have never put a foot
wrong, or at least no big controversy has come to light, until Ant’s struggle
with painkillers hit the headlines last year; and they know their niche,
playing off their perfect pairing on every show they host with a unique mix of
wit, cheekiness and hijinks.
Up until this point, there is no
Ant without Dec and no Dec without Ant. It’s common for people to joke about
not being to tell which one is which. They are like fish and chips, good by
themselves but much better when they’re together. You can’t bottle what they
have; a genuine bond of friendship that they can play off for our
entertainment.
Of course there’s many pairing in
the entertainment world that the nation has loved dearly or enjoyed watching on
the box; Richard & Judy, Ruth and Eamonn, Mel & Sue, Paul & Mary
and the current stalwarts of morning chat shows, Holly and Philip.
In many cases, these duos first
became famous as a duo so it can be hard to see them as individual stars worthy
of our affection. It can feel like something is missing - the spark without the
fizzz
As time moves on, shows change and
stars want to strike out on their own, and some have gone on to be successful
in their own right. Mel and Sue gradually took on solo work and made
appearances on panel shows before coming back together as pair to reside over
Great British Bake Off, for instance. The transition wasn’t sudden and as a
result, they are probably better known now as two presenters who occasionally
collaborate.
In the case of Ant and Dec, we
have never seen them apart - they even live on the same street! - so the idea
of them going solo is something we really aren’t used to, but Dec has a
glittering legacy and the goodwill of the public so there’s no reason why he
can’t carry on without his best friend by his side, either for now or for the
long term.
As we have access to the lives of
those we watch on screen more than ever before, maintaining a positive public
persona is quite a feat and many stars, sometimes for the smallest of perceived
misdemeanours, can become subject to trial by social media. Take the backlash
that Jesy from Little Mix received just last month when she shared a picture of
herself with dreadlocks, with fans slamming her for cultural appropriation. Or
the quite vile treatment of Alexandra Burke during her stint on
Strictly, for crying too much and appearing false. The moment a star shows
signs of weakness or dips a toe over some line of what is acceptable of them,
and the media, and public, are quick to pick them up and often, the response
can be quite devastating.
In the case of Ant, memories
aren’t short and his spell in rehab for painkiller addiction, and his impending
divorce from his wife Lisa, have all been brought up to add to his drunk
driving charge woes. No longer does he seem to be a cheeky chappy, one half of
the nation’s favourite duo. He is a real man with real issues and taking a step
back to really assess and work on his issues is the best course of action for
him, for his own wellbeing as well as his professional reputation.
But of course, he comes as a pair
and when he is in the firing line, unfortunately Dec will be collateral damage
of some sorts. ITV has publically been seen to support Ant through his past
problems – perhaps not just out of genuine affection but, to be cynical, to
protect their cash cow, as Ant and Dec are synonymous with good, clean family
entertainment for the channel. The serious nature of this week’s incident,
where it’s wasn’t just Ant who was impacted by his actions, but members of the
public including a young girl too. When the circumstances of Ant’s arrest, and
the events leading up to it, are confirmed, it will be a tough decision for ITV
to make and there’s no doubt that public opinion will have some sway.
But now it’s a case of let’s get
ready to rumble. The ITV bosses and Dec have declared the Saturday Night
Takeaway show must go on. Dec has enough charisma and status to do well but it
is a bit like fish without the chips; it’s just not the same if one is missing.
Whilst we may live in a culture
public outrage comes and goes with the next controversial headline, and
celebrities can rise and fall just as quickly, the track-record held by Ant may
not be enough to protect his credibility. Other stars have suffered similar fates
as disturbed or complicated individuals, such as Michael Barrymore or George
Michael, whilst others have risen from the ashes and made amends, like
Cheryl Cole and even Robbie Williams. Both of these popstars have
chequered pasts but have been able to turn events in their favour; in Robbie’s
case, it’s his honesty in discussing his demons that makes him endearing once
more with the public.
So, will this latest turn of
events have a dramatic impact on Ant’s image and career trajectory? Sadly, the
answer, at least for the immediate future, is why aye man. That’s why Dec
distancing himself and carrying on the show solo is the best for everyone concerned...
and it’ll be for the public to decide if they can accept a Saturday night with
just one cheeky Geordie rather than the two we have been used to for so long.
Comment by Kelly O'Hanlon, Senior Lecturer in PR
Media coverage in: Daily Star and New! Magazine
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