Ant and Dec have announced they are returning to Byker Grove as executive producers for a reboot of the iconic Geordie drama. The original series, which aired on BBC One from 1989 to 2006, was set in a youth club and tackled ahead-of-its-time storylines involving abortion, drugs, sexuality, and bullying.
The reboot, now titled simply 'Byker', will be set in Newcastle and produced by Mitre Studios, the company run by Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, alongside Fulwell 73. It is scheduled to air in 2024 in a prime-time slot, a shift from its original late-afternoon CBBC broadcast.
Dec Donnelly stated that storylines are at an early stage but did not rule out a cameo for their characters PJ and Duncan. Fulwell 73 aims to engage a new generation of teenagers, with a focus on casting from the North-East as much as possible.
Donnelly expressed excitement about the project, saying: 'Byker Grove will always be very special to us as the show which gave us our break, so we are beyond excited.' He added that the reboot will 'help shine a spotlight on the North-East and the talent the region has to offer.'
Filming locations and casting details have not been confirmed. The original theme tune, recorded by The Kane Gang, may also receive an update, according to Fulwell 73's Leo Pearlman, who noted that 'the whole creative industry is so much stronger when it is geographically diverse.'
