THEIR cheeky grins have made them so popular, it’s hard to imagine Ant and Dec not being recognised wherever they go.
But the double act have found that in America they are just Ordinary Joes. And they’re taking full advantage of their new-found anonymity to get “hammered” and be “naughty”.
The Geordies are in Los Angeles to host new US TV show Wanna Bet? – and they’ve been enjoying every minute of their time there.
“We’ve kind of stayed very English,” says Ant McPartlin, 32. “We’ve been out with Ricky Gervais, Coldplay and Matt and David from Little Britain. And we’re going to meet up with Cat Deeley later.
“You kind of end up staying at the same places or going out and eating at the same places, or you just text people saying, ‘You’re in LA? Well I’m in LA. Let’s get drunk’.”
Single Declan Donnelly confesses he is hoping to meet the woman of his dreams while he’s in the States. But he’s revealed there’s one thing about him potential girlfriends have to like – his “other half” Ant.
The duo admit that they come as a pair – “although not in that sense,” quips Ant. “Let’s not frighten the girls off!”
Dec, 31, says American girls are “very nice” but he has a wish list of requirements: “A good sense of humour – that’s very important. She must be up for a laugh and drink Newcastle Brown Ale.”
And he admits he’s baffled by the mating rituals in LA. “You actually have to call ladies here and make a date. I’m not into that.
It’s kind of weird.” Ant adds: “Can’t you just text? Texting’s the man’s way to do it.” Dec jokes: “That’s how you finish them as well – just text them.”
Advertisement - article continues below »
Meanwhile Ant, who wed make-up artist Lisa Armstrong last year, says he’s loving married life.
“It’s great. We were going out for 11 years before we got married.
So if I didn’t know by then, then I never would have known. But I knew.”
The pair admit they’re missing home but one plus is the LA weather. Dec says: “We’ve been getting some sun, but we’re from Newcastle so we’re not used to it being out on consecutive days.
“I burnt my forehead. It’s easy to do, there’s a lot of space,” says Ant. “And I burnt my Adam’s apple,” says Dec. “I don’t know how. Look, it’s really red.”
The new show promises to be a ratings winner. Dec says: “The tagline is ‘The show where ordinary people come to claim they can do extraordinary things’.
“We’ve had a guy who can kick himself in the head 45 times in a minute and a 12-year-old boy who can identify vacuum cleaners by the sound alone.
“One guy said he could identify the band and the album title simply by licking a CD… and he got it right!”
Ant & Dec, who finished filming Britain’s Got Talent last month, are trying not to become too “La La Land” while in LA. “We won’t be getting our teeth done,” says Dec. “I’ve alright teeth. And Simon Cowell’s had his done so I think I’ll stick with this lot!”
Let’s hope the natural look goes down well with the LA ladies…
