Ant and Dec’s BBC2 Street Car Showdown ‘will not be aired following pilot episode’

Ant and Dec’s Street Car Showdown ‘has been axed by the BBC following pilot episode’… after ‘contractual obligation’ to ITV prevented them from even appearing on the show


A prospective project for television presenting duo Ant and Dec has reportedly been axed by the BBC following a pilot episode.

Street Car Showdown was set to be a motoring series that centred on two teams of competing contestants, who had to transform second-hand vehicles into racing cars – in only ten days on a small budget. 

The show had the potential to rocket the Geordies to yet another avenue on television, which would’ve seen the presenters return to the BBC after more than 30 years since appearing on teen drama series Byker Grove. 

Axed: Ant and Dec’s Street Car Showdown ‘will not be aired following pilot episode’ – as the duo prepared to return to the BBC more than 30 years after meeting on Byker Grove

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ant and Dec – and the BBC – for comment.

Britain’s Got Talent hosts’ company Mitre Television and Studio Lambert were on track to join forces on the venture, which was lined up to air on BBC2.

A TV insider revealed to The Sun: ‘This was a bit of a passion project for Ant and Dec as they’d had an interest in ‘car modders’ since they were youngsters.

‘They couldn’t actually appear on the show due to their contractual obligations with ITV, but they were the show’s creative consultants.’

Car fanatics: Street Car Showdown was set to be a motoring series that centred on two teams of competing contestants who had to transform second-hand vehicles into racing cars

Car fanatics: Street Car Showdown was set to be a motoring series that centred on two teams of competing contestants who had to transform second-hand vehicles into racing cars

Ant and Dec, whose long list of presenting stints include I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent, said they suggested the idea to emphasise the ‘passion, talent and creativity’ of car enthusiasts. 

The TV stars also added that they have been fascinated by ‘this world’ since their teenage years, as they detailed experiencing car modders meeting up in Sunderland – specifically on Roker seafront – to showcase their creations. 

When the pilot was initially announced in 2019, Studio Lambert chief executive Stephen Lambert added: ‘We were delighted when Mitre asked us to work with them on developing Ant and Dec’s fun, adrenalin-filled idea and producing it with them.’ 

Way back when: The show had the potential to rocket the Geordies to yet another avenue on television, which would've seen the presenters return to the BBC after more than 30 years since appearing on teen drama series Byker Grove [pictured above during the 10th anniversary of the show, 1998]

Way back when: The show had the potential to rocket the Geordies to yet another avenue on television, which would’ve seen the presenters return to the BBC after more than 30 years since appearing on teen drama series Byker Grove [pictured above during the 10th anniversary of the show, 1998]

However, the news won’t have dampened their moods too much after they scooped the Best Presenter gong for an epic 20th time in a row at the National Television Awards this month.   

Ant and Dec looked both elated and stunned as their names were read out amid huge cheers from the audience, with Ant’s new bride Anne-Marie showing him support by taking his hand before applauding the pair.

The duo beat off competition from the likes of Piers Morgan, Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond and Bradley Walsh to win the coveted gong once more. 

Success: Ant and Dec scooped the Best Presenter gong for an epic 20th time in a row at the National Television Awards this month

Success: Ant and Dec scooped the Best Presenter gong for an epic 20th time in a row at the National Television Awards this month

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk