Declan Donnelly

A promotional video for Hanging Out with Ant and Dec initially showed dangling legs before revealing the duo hanging from a washing line. Charities and internet users considered that the image evoked hanging. Ant and Dec apologised and removed the video.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Recurring jokes by Ant and Dec about Reverend Richard Coles on I'm a Celebrity, combining parody sermons and religious puns, prompted complaints to Ofcom: approximately 70 in an initial wave and another fifty or so the following week.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Saturday Night Takeaway pranked an expectant father by showing him a fake animated ultrasound scan. Viewers considered the segment cruel or insensitive, notably in light of experiences of miscarriage and the emotional significance of a first scan.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the opening of Saturday Night Takeaway, Donnelly told a nervous audience member to "close your legs". Viewers described the remark as inappropriate, and some called for complaints to Ofcom.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In earlier Undercover segments, Ant and Dec had darkened their skin, worn prosthetics and used accents to portray, among others, two Jamaican women and two Japanese characters. In 2020, they acknowledged that the sketches were wrong, apologised and requested their removal from catch-up services.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A Saturday Night Takeaway sketch about an alien "infecting" humanity was criticised as particularly ill-timed at the start of the pandemic. Ofcom received 29 complaints and indicated that it was assessing the programme.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Ant and Dec were among investors in Ingenious Media film partnerships, financing arrangements allowing tax deductions to be claimed and contested by HMRC over an extended period.

State of the evidence

Documented

American comedian Anthony Kalloniatis, who used the ANT trademark, brought litigation concerning the use of "Ant & Dec" in the United States. The federal court record indicates that the claims against McPartlin, Donnelly and Gallowgate were dismissed in October 2009.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

The 2005 People's Choice Award was presented to Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway although The Catherine Tate Show had received the most votes. Following an investigation, Ant and Dec returned the trophy.

State of the evidence

Documented

An independent ITV investigation identified misleading practices involving competitions and premium-rate phone calls on programmes presented by Ant and Dec: some winners were selected before calls closed or on editorial grounds while viewers continued paying. The duo apologised and announced that profits from the next series of Saturday Night Takeaway would be donated to charity.

State of the evidence

Documented