Beloved British comedy duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have confirmed that they are helping reboot the show that pub them on the map, Byker Grove.
As you we’re sure most of you are aware, before we had Ant and Dec there was PJ and Duncan and it’s fair to day that their career may never have been were it not for those breakthrough roles on the hit children’s show, Byker Grove.
Set in their hometown of Newcastle and airing from 1989 all the way up until 2006, the hit show which rose to popularity throughout the 1990s focused on the everyday lives of kids who attended a youth club of the same name.
Now though, more than 17 years after its final episode, the pair are helping reboot the show for a new generation and Byker Grove’s doors are opening once again.
PJ and Dunc—sorry, Ant and Dec confirm Byker Grove reboot
Working alongside TV companies Mitre Studios and Fulwell 73, the show’s two former stars will be helping the production team to capture the essence of the original programme as well as update it for a new audience.
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Set be renamed simply as Byker, Ant and Dec said they are looking forward to not only adapting the show for modern kids’ telly but “those who remember it as fondly as we do.”
The pair went on to admit that it’s obviously very close to their hearts and “couldn’t be more excited to be giving it a new lease of life” but more importantly that, on a community level, “it will help provide sustainable training and employment in front and behind the camera for talent in the North East.”
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That’s the sort of stuff we like to hear; the spirit of PJ and Duncan is still very much alive and well even today. Here they are 27 years ago talking about the first time they ever met, which in itself is a bit of a weird thought, as us watching at home pretty much see them as almost inseparable.
#OnThisDay 1996: PJ And Duncan were on Pebble Mill talking Byker Grove, pop and their new alias. By all accounts, these lads are working at a "takeaway" of some sort now. pic.twitter.com/IcVqgzAvun
The impact and influenceit had over multiple generations of those growing up in and around Newcastle, the Tyne and the Wear is hard to overlook, with it being as significant to local culture as the likes of Corrie probably was or maybe even still is for us Mancs.
With countless other now-familiar TV faces having first got their shot on the show, the legacy of Byker Grove in the North East can still be felt today. Even current Newcastle icon Sam Fender recreated the famous paintball scene featuring PJ and Ducan a couple of years back.
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It is yet to be confirmed whether or not the show will return to the BBC after nearly two decades, but Ant and Dec did tease potential returning cameos, as well as joking that they’ll spare us a musical comeback. Regardless, we look forward to seeing what Byker Grove looks like all these years later.
The best part is, it’s not the only ’90s TV favourite returning to our screens either…
Featured Image — BBC/Mitre Studios (via Twitter)/IMBb/Ant and Dec
TV & Showbiz
One Born Every Minute is returning to TV – and this time, it’s filmed in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The BAFTA-award winning documentary series One Born Every Minute is returning to our screens this week – and this time, it’s been filmed in Manchester.
The hit series ran for 11 seasons between 2010 and 2018, before taking a break.
But Channel 4’s acclaimed series will return from 25 October, following a whole new set of parents as they welcome new arrivals in one of the UK’s busiest maternity wards – Manchester’s St Mary’s Hospital.
Viewers will be taken back onto the wards for a new series of the observational documentary series, following the intimate, emotional journey of childbirth in 12 new episodes.
They’re promising that this latest season of One Born Every Minute will capture modern Britain, highlighting evolving family dynamics, advances in maternity care, and the real-life challenges faced by NHS staff in 2026.
Vivienne Molokwu, Senior Commissioning Editor, Reality & Entertainment and Commissioning Lead for E4 said: “Nearly 10 years on, we feel very privileged to once again follow the journey that parents embark on as they welcome their babies to the world.
“We know the roller coaster of emotions that this period brings is something that will really resonate with the E4 audience, and we cannot wait for our viewers to see how the digital age has reshaped how families navigate this stage of life.”
Will Rowson, Co-Creative Director at Dragonfly TV added: “There’s such affection for One Born Every Minute, and we’re thrilled to return to it. In the years it’s been away so much around pregnancy and maternity care has changed, making this an exciting moment to reimagine the show for an E4 audience.”
One Born Every Minute will return to E4 on Sunday 25 October at 9pm.
Featured image: Rachel Joseph / Channel Rachel Joseph / Channel 4
TV & Showbiz
Mercury Prize 2026 review: RAYE takes home the crown as Newcastle celebrates the very best in music
Clementine Hall
One of the biggest nights in music kicked off last night as the Mercury Prize 2026 was awarded.
If there was ever a night to fall head over heels in love with British and Irish music, the 2026 Mercury Prize made a very convincing case.
Bringing together some of the country’s most exciting artists under one roof in Newcastle, this year’s ceremony was a reminder of just how much talent is packed into the current music scene.
From established legends to the names shaping what comes next, it was an absolute belter.
Images: Audio North
Held at the Newcastle Utilita Arena for the second year running, I think everybody in that room felt very lucky to be there to see firsthand who took home the coveted prize.
The shortlist brought together an impressive mix of artists, with Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, JADE, Suede, Pulp, Dave and Sir Paul McCartney among the big names making the lineup very star studded indeed.
Suede kicked things off with ‘Dancing With The Europeans’, bringing their unmistakable energy to the ceremony, while Pulp delivered ‘Begging For Change’ as part of the HELP(2) charity compilation.
It was a line-up that demonstrated the sheer range of music being made across the UK and Ireland, from contemporary pop to established rock and even jungle thanks to Bradford’s own Nia Archives.
And of course, there was one woman who had every reason to leave with a smile on her face.
RAYE took home the coveted Mercury Prize for THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., an ambitious, genre-hopping album that blends jazz, soul, R&B and classical influences into something so fabulously unique.
Image: Audio North
Newcastle’s own Knats performance was definitely a highlight of the evening, combining slick jazz with spoken-word poetry against a projection of The Tyne Bridge.
A fitting image, and one that underlines the importance of holding such huge events in the north and highlighting the obvious talent that thrives here.
The 2026 Mercury Prize was a brilliant showcase of the country’s music at its best.
And with RAYE taking home the trophy, it’s clear there is plenty of ‘hope’ left in British music.
Danny Jones -
4th July 2023 
