The pair, who also front 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' are currently said to be renegotiating their "golden handcuffs" contract with ITV, which is due for renewal this October. It is currently said to be worth about £4m.
According to sources, BBC One controller Lorraine Heggassey is keen to sign the pair to boost the Beeb's Saturday night ratings. However, a BBC spokesman said today that it would not be bidding for Ant and Dec "while they are under their contract for ITV".
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both aged 28, started their careers on children's BBC drama 'Byker Grove' and have also presented 'SM:TV' with Cat Deely, as well as their own show 'Saturday Night Takeaway'. An achievement they would probably much rather forget about, however, is their attempt at a pop career with the chart hit 'Let's Get Ready to Rumble'.
ITV poached one of the BBC's most respected interviewers and biggest stars Michael Parkinson after 33 years at the corporation, last month. In February, ITV also grabbed the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race from the channel, ending the corporation's 50-year association with the race.
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