Ant and Dec win biggest pay deal in TV history

Ant and Dec are said to have been offered a £40million deal with ITV - the biggest deal in TV history.

The contract would mean the presenters, both 31, will front primetime shows for the next three years, it was reported.

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly started their careers on the children's show Byker Grove, at 13.

And in 2004 the pair, who hosted Pop Idol and I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! signed a £5million deal.

In their primetime: Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin

But this reported deal would dwarf contracts awarded recently to other primetime figures. Last summer Jonathan Ross secured an £ 18million deal with the BBC. And In December, Simon Cowell signed a £20million ITV deal.

Ant and Dec were not meant to sign a new contract until September. But ITV was said to be keen to push the deal forward.

It had been thought they might look for a TV future in the U.S, like their former colleague Cat Deeley.

The pair have just filmed a pilot for a game show Wanna Bet for the U.S. channel ABC. But a TV source told The Sun: "The boys see their future on British TV and they are committed to working on ITV. This is a jawdropping deal as ITV is paying huge money for Ant and Dec.

"But, then again, they are two of the channel's main faces. Ant and Dec are worth every penny. Everyone at ITV is extremely excited."

The pair, who have also presented shows such as Saturday Night Takeaway, will next be seen on ITV in June, hosting Cowell's new show Britain's Got Talent.

They have a production company called Gallowgate and have launched their own shows, including PokerFace on ITV. It is thought they will sign the deal next week after flying home from Los Angeles.

The contract would be a coup for Michael Grade, the former BBC chairman who took over at ITV in January. The channel has also won the rights to broadcast England home football matches and FA cup fixtures.

A spokesman said: "We are currently in discussions with Ant and Dec. We cannot confirm anything at the moment but this is a very important deal for ITV.