Ant And Dec To Take Pay Cut

22 October 2009

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Ant and Dec are to take a huge pay cut to stay with ITV.

The presenting duo are expected to sign a new two-year deal with ITV in the next few weeks, thought to be worth an estimated £15 million - down from between £17 and £20 million.

Anthony McPartlin, 33 and Declan Donnelly, 34, will reportedly take the 10 per cent pay cut to stay with the channel, but had feared it would be as much as 25 per cent due to the present recession.

Earlier in the year Ant said: "If we're offered less, so be it. It's a tough time for everyone right now.

If we're offered less, so be it. It's a tough time for everyone right now.I want to make great shows and money comes after that.

"I want to make great shows and money comes after that."

The presenters currently have a 'Golden Handcuffs' deal with ITV, which keeps them working exclusively with the channel.

Senior ITV figures said the pair's wages shouldn't be cut because all of the high viewing figures the shows they front - which include 'Britain's Got Talent', 'Saturday Night Takeaway' and 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here' - command.

A source at het channel told The Sun: "Ant and Dec are part of the fabric of ITV and their success is our success.

"We are not the BBC, funded by the license fee payer, so don't have to justify big salaries of our stars."

It is thought the contract will be signed before the duo head off to Australia to front 'I'm A Celebrity...' next month.

ITV lost an estimated £2.7 billion last year, and has already been forced to cut 1,000 jobs.

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