"Oh come on Dec" Fonsey pleaded "you'll enjoy it"

"No I won't Dad" Dec replied "it's golf for fu...for goodness sake"

"Nice save Declan" Fonsey laughed "don't let your mother hear you using that language"

"I didn't Dad" Dec grinned "I said for goodness sake"

"Yeah,of course you did" Fonsey smiled "so you're not even gonna give it a try?you're gonna write it off before even giving it a go?"

"Dunno" Dec shrugged.

"Just like when you were a kid" Fonsey sighed "and your Mam tried to get you to try new foods.You'd insist you didn't like them before they even passed your lips"

"I still do that" Dec smiled cheekily.

"Really?" Fonsey asked surprised "at your age?"

"Yeah" Dec frowned "well,some things just look rank,I don't want them anywhere near my mouth"

"Like what?" Fonsey asked amused.

"Like liver" Dec pulled a disgusted face "or kidneys or beetroot,they're all gross"

"Love a nice bit of liver I do" Fonsey smiled.

"Yeah well,you're gross too then" Dec laughed.

"Alright Decky" Fonsey stated "how about this game of golf then?come on,just this once,it would mean alot to me,do it for your old Dad please"

"Oh great" Dec frowned "so you're trying to guilt trip me into doing it now?"

"Maybe a little bit" Fonsey grinned "after all,I hardly get to see you these days and I miss you,so a round of golf with my youngest son would put a smile back on my face,it's not too much to ask is it?"

"Ok,ok" Dec laughed "stop with the guilt trip will ya?I'll play bloody golf with you if it'll shut you up"

"Good" Fonsey replied "I knew you'd agree in the end,you're not the only stubborn arsehole in this family"

"Eejit" Dec laughed.

So just a couple of days later,Ant and Dec were joining Fonsey and his friends Arthur and Marcus on the golf course.

"So bored" Dec whined while watching his Dad line up his shot.He also knew how annoying he was being when he pretending to stifle a fake yawn,but he didn't care.He laughed loudly as Fonsey attempted to hit the small,heavy ball,but got nowhere "ya missed" he shouted gleefully.

"Are you going to be deliberately awkward for the whole game?" Fonsey enquired with a frown.

"Maybe" Dec grinned.

"Ignore him Fonsey" Ant playfully advised "he's just attention seeking as usual"

"You're an eejit Ant" Dec replied,using one of his favourite words.

"Come on then smart arse" Fonsey ordered "your turn,put your money where your mouth is,let's see how you do"

Dec lined up his golfing iron with the ball and struck it with as much strength as he could muster up,but it immediately headed straight towards a tree where it landed with a crack.

"Not so clever now are ya Decs eh?" Ant laughed "and the hole is over there" he pointed towards the hole that Dec should have been aiming towards.

"Yes I know that" Dec frowned "you all just distracted me with your incessant chatting"

"Oh I see" Fonsey laughed "it's our fault is it?did you hear that lads?apparently it's all our fault that our Decky here hit his ball at a tree,nothing to do with the fact he's just not very good"

"Of course I'm not very good" Dec replied grumpily "I've never played this stupid game before"

"So now it's the games fault" Ant teased.

"Come on Decky" Fonsey smiled "it was only your first swing,you'll get the hang of it soon,give it another go,here let me show you"

Fonsey stood behind Dec and wrapped his arms around him and placed his hands upon Decs.

"Like this" Fonsey advised manoeuvring Decs arms into striking the ball and this time it went very close to its desired target.

"That's better" the loving father smiled as he watched the ball roll close to the hole "just takes a bit of practice"

Indeed Fonsey was right and Dec did actually start to enjoy playing the game as his aim got better and better,although he was loathe to admit just how much fun he was actually having.

The day unexpectedly turned out to be extra special,with Ant and Dec enjoying the time spent with Fonsey and his friends and they inevitably ended up at the Irish centre for a few pints afterwards.

"So how did you enjoy your first game of golf boys?" Arthur enquired.

"Loved it" Ant announced cheerfully "can't wait to play again"

"I'm so glad about that Anthony" Fonsey smiled "next time you're up,we'll definitely have another game"

"It's a date" Ant grinned.

"Decky?" Fonsey looked towards his son hopefully.

"Ok Dad" Dec replied while rolling his eyes playfully "you were right,i admit it,it was fun after all"

"So you'll be happy to play another game next time you're up too?" Fonsey smiled.

"Yes Dad" Dec replied "I'll have another game with you"

"Good" Fonsey beamed "cheers"

The group of men all clinked their pint glasses together.

"Maybe me and him will get a bit of practice back in London" Ant announced "there's got to be a golf course down there somewhere"

"Oh watch out Fonsey" Arthur laughed "you're gonna have some competition now,created a monster with those two"

"Bring it on" Fonsey replied good heartedly.

Soon the boys trip to Newcastle was coming to an end.They were very sad about leaving their families,but they had to get back to London to concentrate on their careers.Mike had been on the phone several times while they were away and had been in talks with channel four about the possibility of a new programme for Ant and Dec.

The boys were beyond excited at this development and wanted to get their production company off of the ground as soon as possible so it could be involved with the new programme should everything go to plan.

"Ant 'n' Dec productions" Dec stated one day as they sat in their living room.

"What?" Ant looked away from the telly briefly to concentrate on what Dec was saying.

"I said Ant 'n' Dec productions" Dec repeated.

"Yeah I heard" Ant replied "what about it?"

"Didn't you hear the difference?" Dec grinned "I said Ant 'N' Dec productions,not Ant AND Dec productions,what do you think?"

"Oh I see" Ant smiled "no I can't say I noticed the difference,does it matter?"

"Yeah I think it does actually" Dec stated "I think Ant 'n' Dec sounds more like a partnership,like they go together,the perfect marriage,like fish 'n' chips"

"Fish 'n' chips?" Ant couldn't contain his laughter.

"I like it" Dec announced stubbornly "I think that should be the name of the company,Ant 'n' Dec productions"

"What about Ant & Dec productions?" Ant grinned "ya know with that little symbol instead of the word 'and'?"

"Really?" Dec frowned "not sure I like that as much"

"I'm winding you up Decs" Ant laughed "you're taking this way too seriously,it's one word,it really doesn't matter how it's written"

"Well,I like my idea" Dec replied moodily.

"Alright Dec" Ant smiled "Ant 'AND' Dec productions sounds more professional in my opinion,but if that's what you want,I'm not bothered either way,so we'll go with whatever will make you happy"

"Good" Dec smiled,pleased that he'd got his own way once again.

"Tell you what though Dec?" Ant beamed.

"What?" Dec replied curiously.

"I really fancy fish 'N' chips now" Ant then proceeded to collapse back into the sofa in a fit of giggles.

"Shut up" Dec laughed at his daft friend.

The next day Mike was on the phone confirming that Channel four definitely wanted the boys for their new teatime sketch show.Ant and Dec promptly headed to their local pub to celebrate.

'Ant and Dec unzipped' was soon underway and proved to be a big hit with the kids once again,it even won the boys another BAFTA.Things were looking up once again and as they'd hoped,their new production company was involved with the new show.

Towards the end of that year,they were also offered the chance to host a show called 'Ant and Decs Geordie Christmas' of course they leapt at the chance.

Unfortunately going into the new year,things started to hit a downward spiral once again as they were informed that there wouldn't be a second series of 'Ant and Dec unzipped' and of course the Christmas show was only a one off for obvious reasons.

The boys did their best not to be down hearted at the way things were turning out,but it wasn't easy.At least other things were going really well in their lives,like Ants love life for instance.

He had made murmurs about wanting to get a place with Lisa,but until he had made an official announcement,Dec decided to not take too much notice of it.The truth was,the thought of not living with Ant anymore not only made him sad,it worried him as well.

Who would look out for him?who would make sure he didn't burn the house down when he attempted to cook something as simple as fish fingers?who would be there to put him to bed when he had a little bit too much to drink?

Ant had got that down to a fine art by now.Every time his lightweight friend didn't know quite where to draw the line when it came to alcohol,Ant was always there,ready to take care of him.Dec always insisted he knew his limits,when in fact the exact opposite was the actual truth,so there were many occasions over the years that they flat shared together where Ants caring skills were called upon.

It usually took him no more than fifteen minutes to strip Dec down to his underwear,guide him to the toilet for a wee and to brush his teeth and more often than not,to throw his guts up into the toilet bowl while drunkenly swearing he will never,ever drink again.Ant would then have his little friend tucked up in bed with a plastic bowl at the bedside just in case he needed to throw up again in the night,which he often did.

Then Ant would attend to Decs inevitable hangover the next day,plying him with headache tablets and forcing him to drink water.

Who would do that if Ant moved out?Dec thought to himself although he quickly decided not to dwell on it any longer,not until he knew for definite at least.

"Happy new year" Mike announced as he called the boys on the first day of 1998.

"Happy new year to you too Mike" Ant replied down the phone line.

"This year is gonna be a cracker" Mike announced.

"Oh yeah?" Ant enquired nonchalantly "we say that pretty much every new year,let's wait and see shall we?"

"Don't need to wait" Mike grinned.

"Ok Mike" Ant sighed,knowing how their manager loved to play these guessing games with them,but to be honest,they were getting a little bit old in Ant and Decs book "just tell us will ya?have you got something up your sleeve?"

"Might have" Mike stated.

"Just tell us Mike" Ant repeated curtly "or I swear I'm hanging this phone up right now"

"Ok,ok" Mike laughed "you're no fun Anthony McPartlin"

"I'm waiting" Ant snapped.

"I've got you a gig" Mike announced.

"What do you mean by a gig?" Ant enquired suspiciously.

"I mean a presenting gig" Mike replied.

"Oh ok" Ant replied relieved,he now always associated the word 'gig' with the live shows that PJ and Duncan had done on tour,no way was he going back to that.

"It's for a new children's Saturday morning show on ITV" Mike informed him "it's called SMTV live and it'll be you and Dec plus a third presenter"

"Who's the third presenter?" Ant asked curiously,not sure he liked that idea,he and Dec didn't need anyone else,they were perfect just the way they were,just the two of them in their presenting roles,bouncing off of each other,would a third person spoil that chemistry?or would they enhance it?he really wasn't sure.

"Don't know yet" Mike replied "but this is gonna be big,I can feel it,as big as Tiswas or Swap Shop or any of those other Saturday morning programmes and you guys are perfect for it,you do live television so well,just like you were born for it"

"Yeah thanks,I'll tell Dec" Ant replied,before hanging up the phone and repeating the conversation to his best friend.

The boys were becoming increasingly excited at the idea of this SMTV live as Mike phoned them daily to inform them of any developments with getting it off the ground.

Unfortunately Mike's next piece of information about the new programme just about killed their excitement stone dead when they all spoke again.

"What do you mean it doesn't start recording until the end of August?" Dec fumed down the phone line "it's only January now,that's eight months away"

"What the hell are we gonna do with ourselves until then?!"