Britain's favourite television presenting partnership, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, are venturing into the world of podcasts for the very first time. The iconic duo, both now 50, announced the launch of their new series, 'Hanging Out With Ant & Dec', which will premiere on Monday, January 22.
A New Digital Home: The Belta Box Channel
The podcast will be the flagship offering on their freshly launched digital entertainment platform, Belta Box. This new channel promises to be a hub for fans, featuring brand-new digital content alongside classic clips from Ant and Dec's most beloved shows. Belta Box will be accessible across all major platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, ensuring fans can connect with the pair wherever they prefer.
Speaking about this significant expansion, Ant explained the thinking behind Belta Box: 'We've spent our whole careers celebrating great entertainment, so launching Belta Box feels like the natural next step. Alongside our new podcast, we're excited to create a space packed with fun, feel-good content that brings people together.'
An Unscripted Friendship Catch-Up
The podcast's concept is refreshingly simple. In a return to their roots, Ant and Dec have created the series as a way to spend more time together, something that has become harder since both became fathers to young children. The episodes will be completely unscripted, with no set agenda, allowing for natural conversation.
'We asked our audience what they would want from a podcast, and they said they just wanted to hear us hang out,' Dec revealed. 'So that's what we're doing! Ant and I don't get to hang out as much as we used to, so it's perfect for us.'
Listeners can expect the pair to reminisce about their decades-long friendship, reflect on their incredible careers, and simply catch up on life. The series will be released bi-weekly, with an extra bonus episode dropping every Monday to keep the content flowing.
Fan Involvement and Industry Excitement
A key feature of 'Hanging Out With Ant and Dec' will be direct fan interaction. Viewers and listeners will be encouraged to shape the weekly conversation by submitting questions, asking the duo to relive iconic TV moments, seeking advice, or sharing their own stories.
The launch has generated significant excitement within their production company, Mitre Studios. Ed Sleeman, Managing Director, stated: 'Launching Belta Box represents a natural and exciting evolution. Entering the podcast space for the first time with Ant and Dec is a significant and energising moment for the company.'
Jules McGill, Head of Digital & Social Content, added: 'This marks a big moment as we grow our digital output. Belta Box will serve as the home for innovative, digital-first content, bringing the Mitre Studios signature brand of fun to new audiences.'
Extended video versions of each podcast episode will be available to watch on the Belta Box YouTube channel, while audio episodes can be found on all major podcast platforms. Fans can also follow updates and get involved via Ant and Dec's and Belta Box's social media channels.
