"That was brilliant" Ant grinned as he and Dec wrapped up the first episode of the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway and made their way backstage for the after show party.

"It really was" Dec agreed "great crowd"

"They really were" Ant smiled.

Ant and Dec were still amazed how loyal members of the public were willing to queue up for hours on end on freezing winter days just to see their shows,but they were extremely grateful that they did,the boys couldn't imagine what their shows,or even their careers would have been like without their live audiences.

They had already completed the auditions for Britain's Got Talent a few weeks earlier,so were happily throwing themselves into Saturday Night Takeaway.

The series got off to a great start which made Ant and Dec happy as usual,but something was bothering Dec,so he invited Ant round to his place the next day.

"Alright decs?" Ant smiled as he made himself comfortable in the living room "where's Ali?"

"She's taken Isla over to a friends for the day" Dec smiled "so just me,you and Rocky"

"Ah,ok" Ant smiled "shame it's not my turn to have Hurley,he loves hanging out here"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "you could have brought Milo and Bumble though"

"Those two little lunatics are still a bit too excitable" Ant laughed "so Amzie is on dog sitting duty for the day"

"Fair enough" Dec sighed.

"You ok kidda?" Ant enquired "don't seem quite yourself"

"Yeah,I'm fine" Dec replied "just a little bit worried"

"Worried?" Ant asked concerned "about what?"

"Haven't you been watching the news?" Dec frowned "have you seen what's been going on in the world?"

"What?" Ant asked confused.

"This bloody virus" Dec stated,feeling rather annoyed that he even had to point it out.

"Oh that" Ant smiled "of course I've seen that Declan,but it's happening in China and it's just like a case of the flu,so what are you worried about?why are you even giving it a second thought?"

"Because people are dying" Dec stated sadly.

"Yeah,on the other side of the world" Ant replied "and people die from flu every winter,especially old folk,you're really worrying about nothing"

"Hope so" Dec sighed.

"I know so" Ant smiled and patted Dec on the back reassuringly "now what delights are you going to concoct for my lunch?"

Sadly,as the world was to soon find out,Ant had been terribly wrong with his coronavirus prediction and a few weeks into the new series,an urgent meeting had been called and it was agreed that the next episode of Saturday Night Takeaway would be filmed without a live studio audience to avoid any further spread of the virus,which had now reached the British shores.

"That was so bloody weird" Dec announced after he and Ant came off stage.

"Yeah,it was" Ant nodded "it's never going to work without a crowd"

"We did our best" Dec shrugged.

"Yeah,we did" Ant agreed "it was unusual circumstances,but we coped"

The boys were unusually quiet on the drive home,neither of them could believe this was happening and unfortunately,things were only going to get worse as it was announced that England would be going into its first full lockdown on the 23rd of March,meaning the show would have to be presented from the boys homes via video link or not at all.

"I hate this" Dec sobbed to Ant after the first ever show from his house was broadcast,which was basically just him and Ant introducing a lot of video clips "I can't even see you in person"

"I know it's hard Decs" Ant comforted,but it's for the best,everyone has to keep themselves and others safe and we need to set an example"

"Why do we?" Dec asked sulkily.

"You know why Declan" Ant smiled,desperate to keep his friends spirits up "because people look up to us and if we can do a tiny bit to make things a little bit brighter for them during this awful time,then that's what we should do"

"I guess" Dec replied sadly as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Don't be upset kidda" Ant smiled "it's not going to go on forever and you've still got Ali and Isla and that lovely big house to hang around in,most people have a hell of a lot less,you'll be fine"

"Yeah,I know" Dec sniffed as he dried his eyes "sorry"

"Hey" Ant smiled "you don't need to apologise,it's a scary time for everyone"

"I'm terrified of catching this thing though" Dec admitted "what if I die and leave Isla without a dad and Ali without a husband?"

"Declan" Ant replied sternly "you are not going to die,you're young and healthy,now snap out of it will you?"

"Not that young" Dec mumbled.

"You'll be ok" Ant smiled.

"Hope so" Dec replied "suppose you still think it's just like flu?"

"Er...no,I don't" Ant winced at his original reaction to covid 19 "I know I was wrong now,but that doesn't mean we're all going to catch it and die,just follow the rules Decs and we'll all be fine"

"Yeah,I will" Dec replied "I've just never lived through a pandemic before"

"No one has" Ant informed him "unless they're well over a hundred years old"

"Oh,I suppose you know when the last one was then?" Dec laughed "with you being a history buff and all that"

"Er...yeah I do actually" Ant grinned.

"When?" Dec enquired curiously.

"1918" Ant confirmed "Spanish flu"

"And how many people died?" Dec pushed for more information.

"You really don't want to know that Decs" Ant sighed.

"Yes I do" Dec snapped back "you might as well tell me or I'll just go and Google it anyway"

"Up to fifty million worldwide" Ant whispered.

"What?" Dec asked shocked.

"Up to fifty million" Ant repeated.

"Fifty million deaths?" Dec asked horrified.

"Yeah" Ant nodded.

"That's horrendous" Dec frowned "what if it happens again?"

"It won't" Ant stated firmly.

"How can you be so sure?" Dec asked.

"Because that was over a hundred years ago" Ant replied "they didn't have the healthcare we have now or the amazing scientists working their butts off to produce a vaccine"

"I suppose so" Dec sighed.

"Look Declan" Ant smiled "it's going to be a Rocky road..."

"Woof" a small yap came from the dog bed.

"He wasn't talking to you Rocky" Dec laughed.

"Little monkey" Ant grinned "anyway,I was about to say it's going to be a rock...a bumpy road for everyone,but it's not going to go on forever and we'll get through it,I promise you"

"Hope so" Dec smiled.

Dec suddenly thought of how much Ant had been through over the last couple of years,but he was still being positive,so Dec had to at least try to do the same.He actually felt incredibly selfish all of a sudden when seeing the admirable way that Ant was coping with the situation.

The two of them had been separated so abruptly two years ago after Ants car crash and subsequent stint in rehab,but neither of them imagined it would be happening again so soon,especially under such strange circumstances.

"Wish we could have a hug" Dec sighed.

"Me too" Ant nodded "hey Decs?"

"What?" Dec looked intently at the computer screen.

"Air hug" Ant grinned as he held his arms out towards Dec.

"Air hug" Dec laughed and held his arms out towards his computer too for a virtual hug "thanks Ant,you always know what to say"

"No problem" Ant smiled "as long as you're ok now?"

"Yeah,I'm fine" Dec nodded gratefully "we'll talk again tomorrow though right?"

"Yeah,of course we will" Ant assured him.

Just like the rest of the world,Ant and Dec had no idea how long this nightmare would go on for,but they did at least find ways to occupy themselves.They loved making hilarious videos to keep their fans amused on Instagram.

It had also been suggested to them that they could write another autobiography to celebrate thirty years of working together.This would be the perfect time to do it after all,with them being stuck indoors during a pandemic,it was just the tonic that they needed.

They spent many hours every day collaborating with each other over video calls until it was completed.With a September release date planned,all that was left was for them to think of a title for the book.

"Ooh what a lovely pair...part two" Ant suggested,during one of their video calls.

"Jeez,is that the best you can come up with?" Dec laughed "not very original is it?"

"You got something better then?" Ant complained.

"Ant and Dec...the end of the show show" Dec grinned,referring to the Saturday Night Takeaway segment that took place at the end of every show during the series.

"What?" Ant laughed "that sounds like we're retiring"

"Yeah,good point" Dec agreed "don't wanna do that yet"

"From Newcastle to London...the Ant and Dec story" Ant announced proudly.

"Nah,don't like that" Dec replied "although I do like the idea of having the word Newcastle in the title"

"Newcastle and beyond" Ant suggested.

"No" Dec frowned.

"Bloody hell Decs" Ant laughed "how fussy are you being?"

"Can't help it" Dec frowned "it's got to be perfect,nothing has really grabbed me so far"

"Well,if you want Newcastle in the title" Ant mused "that kind of limits the options,don't you think?"

"Yeah,I guess it does" Dec nodded "although..."

"Although what?" Ant asked hesitantly,slightly wary of what lightbulb moment Dec was having.

"Although" Dec repeated "maybe it doesn't have to have that specific word,could be something else related to Newcastle like toon or tyne"

"Go on" Ant urged.

"Well,I haven't actually thought of anything just yet" Dec grinned.

"Toon toon,black and white army?" Ant suggested.

"We can't just nick Newcastle Uniteds theme tune" Dec laughed.

"Why not?" Ant smirked.

"Because it's not ours to use and our book isn't about football" Dec replied.

"A little bit of it is" Ant grinned "Boxing day 1990,our first date"

"Come on Ant" Dec laughed "this is serious"

"Ok,ok" Ant sighed "what about once upon toon?"

"Maybe we should move away from the football side of things" Dec mused.

"Was your suggestion" Ant shrugged.

"I know" Dec replied "but I can see now that that's not right for our book"

"Ok" Ant smiled as another thought came into his head "how about Once Upon a time on the Tyne?"

"Not bad" Dec mused "but not quite right.

"Once upon a Tyne" Ant suggested.

"Oh my God" Dec grinned.

"What?" Ant asked confused.

"Say that again" Dec demanded.

"Once Upon a Tyne" Ant repeated.

"Ant,that's bloody brilliant" Dec beamed.

"Is it?" Ant asked surprised.

"Yeah,it is" Dec nodded delighted "it's perfect,that has to be the title of our book,do you agree?"

"Er...yeah,I guess so" Ant smiled,still feeling slightly overwhelmed at Decs reaction to his casual suggestion

"Good" Dec replied "that's sorted then"

Now the book was taken care of,Ant and Dec had something else to worry about,in the form of the upcoming series of I'm a Celebrity.

It was looking increasingly unlikely that the virus would be under control enough for them to travel to Australia,so it had to be decided if the series would go ahead at all and if it did,from where?

While the television company worked exceedingly hard to make sure the show would make it to air,Ali had some good news for Dec.

"A cohort?" Dec questioned,as he listened to his wife explaining how things would work "what does that even mean?"

"It means Declan" Ali beamed "that our household and Ants household can be in a support bubble together"

"Really?" Dec asked hopefully.

"Yeah" Ali nodded "so me,you,Isla,Ant,Anne-Marie and her girls can see as much of each other as we like,as if we are just one big household,but we still can't mix with anyone else and we have to follow the rules to the letter"

"Of course" Dec smiled happily.

"And we all have to take a test every four days to make sure we're all free from the virus" Ali informed him.

"All of us?" Dec frowned.

"Well,not Isla obviously" Ali laughed.

"I had no idea this was an option?" Dec smiled.

"It's been in the pipeline for a few weeks now" Ali nodded "I didn't say anything as I didn't want to get your hopes up if it didn't work out for some reason"

"So this means I can see Ant whenever i like?" Dec asked excitedly "we can work alongside each other like we always have?"

"Absolutely" Ali confirmed "as long as none of us tests positive,so you'll be able to present the Britain's Got Talent semi finals together"

"Brilliant" Dec grinned.

The live shows that were usually broadcast in May,had been postponed until September,until it was decided exactly what would happen with them,if anything.

It was eventually decided that they would go ahead with Ant and Dec presenting them,but no live audience once again,but at least there would be some kind of show.

Although Dec wasn't too concerned about that right now.He couldn't have been happier with the news that he would soon be able see Ant and he wouldn't even have to social distance from him.

He hugged Ali warmly and thanked her for sorting that out.

"I'm so happy Ali" he beamed.

"I'm going to see Ant again!"