Jump directly to the content
Exclusive
DEELEY GOOD TO SEE YOU

Ant and Dec reunite with Cat Deeley to plan Chums reboot for one-off TV special

TELLY duo Ant and Dec are planning to reboot their old SMTV Live sketch Chums for a new TV show.

The Geordie presenters, both 44, have written a new script and are hoping to rope in celebrity pals for cameos.

Ant and Dec met with former co-star Cat Deeley in central London after convincing her to take part in the Chums reboot
6
Ant and Dec met with former co-star Cat Deeley in central London after convincing her to take part in the Chums rebootCredit: BackGrid

They have also convinced their old colleague Cat Deeley, 43, to take part in the old skit, which is a parody of US hit sitcom Friends.

It used to play a central part in kids morning show SMTV Live, which ran for five years from 1998.

The Sun understands that the plans would be part of a wider show, rather than a standalone series of just Chums, and that idea is still in the early stages.

A telly source said: “Chums was one of SMTV Live’s most popular sketches so they always wanted to revisit it at some point in the future.

Chums, which saw a fictional romance between Cat and Dec, was extremely popular
6
Chums, which saw a fictional romance between Cat and Dec, was extremely popularCredit: Rex Features
A source said Cat Deeley is 'on board' with the reboot
6
A source said Cat Deeley is 'on board' with the rebootCredit: BackGrid

“They’ve worked on a script they think justifies bringing it back as part of a TV project they’re in talks for.

“And they’ve met with Cat in the last couple of weeks and she’s on board too.

“They’ve started to ask celebrity pals, of which all three have many, to see who fancies taking part in it.

“If it happens it will be a real blast from the past and a nostalgia trip for millions of now grown-up kids.”

Ant and Dec have written a new script and hope to rope in their celebrity pals for cameos
6
Ant and Dec have written a new script and hope to rope in their celebrity pals for cameosCredit: BackGrid
Ant and Dec went for lunch at a swanky restaurant with Cat
6
Ant and Dec went for lunch at a swanky restaurant with CatCredit: BackGrid
The Sun understands the new version would be part of a wider show, not a standalone series
6
The Sun understands the new version would be part of a wider show, not a standalone seriesCredit: Rex Features

Chums – which saw a fictional romance between Cat and Dec – was so popular that when the presenters left the ITV show in 2001 they were shown as standalone repeats on CITV.

It featured a series of high-profile celebrity cameos, in which famous faces often played themselves in fictitious storylines.

In 2017, at the BAFTA TV Awards, the Geordie best pals revealed that ITV had agreed to do a SMTV Live reunion the following year to mark 20 years since it first aired but the plans were later shelved.

Ant and Dec confirm they'll reunite with Cat Deeley for an SM:TV Live special

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]

Topics