‘Byker Grove’ reboot announced, produced by Ant & Dec
PJ and Duncan, sorry, Ant & Dec will oversee the new reboot of the cult BBC series.
By Nick Reilly
Cult BBC TV series Byker Grove is set to make a comeback, produced by its former stars Ant & Dec.
The youth drama, which aired on the Beeb from 1989 to 2006, was set in Newcastle and focused on the lives of the kids who attended the eponymous youth club.
The show famously starred Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as PJ and Duncan, with the roles acting as the launchpad for the pair’s storied TV career and a brief pop career as their small screen alter-egos, with hits such as ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’.
McPartlin and Donnelly will be executive producers on the show and said they were ‘beyond excited’ to confirm its return.
They will develop the show through their own production firm Mitre Studios, in partnership with Fullwell 73, a production company that boasts James Corden as one of its chief partners.
While previously known as Byker Grove, this iteration will simply be called Byker.
Donnelly said it would “help shine a spotlight on the north-east and the talent the region has to offer both in front of the camera and behind it”.
McPartlin added: “We owe such a lot to Byker Grove and the north-east so we can’t wait to start working with Fulwell 73 and the team to bring this iconic series back to life.
“Already talking characters and storylines has us all buzzing at the possibilities ahead. The original series was the starting point for a lot of north-east talent so we’re excited to see what the new team will bring.”
The pair became two of the show’s most enduring characters, with their most iconic storyline involving the moment when PJ (McPartlin) was blinded by a paintball.
The show also launched the career of Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam.
A release date for the show is yet to be announced.