Ant McPartlin has revealed Dermot O’Leary apologised to him after joking that Ant and his presenting partner Dec Donnelly didn’t deserve to win at this year’s National Television Awards.
The duo are up for a best presenter award and if they win, it will continue an 18-year winning streak.
Read more: Ant McPartlin gets emotional on BGT stage as he returns with Dec Donnelly
But Dermot – who will be hosting the ceremony on Tuesday night – claimed he was hoping their streak would be broken, backing either Holly Willoughby or Graham Norton to win.
Speaking about Ant and Dec, Dermot told the Press Association: “If they win it, having not been on television, we may as well just chuck in the towel.”
Now, in an interview with The Sun, Ant said as Dermot’s comments went viral, he quickly texted Ant to clear the air.
Ant explained: “He was kind of joking. I say kind of because it was one of those foolish things to say that’s going to be taken in a serious manner. He said, ‘Oh my God mate, I’m so sorry.'”
Ant went on to reveal about how the pair could resolve the situation, saying he jokingly “challenged him to a fight in the school playground in my response. ‘3pm, schoolbags off'”.
Dec spent the last year working mostly without his long-time partner, as Ant took time off to deal with his addiction issues.
Read more: Ant McPartlin says he “doesn’t speak” to ex Lisa Armstrong following split
Dec was forced to do double duty on Britain’s Got Talent, hosting the show solo for the first time.
But when he headed Down Under to film I’m A Celeb, he took This Morning’s Holly Willoughby to stand in for Ant.
Despite Ant’s absence from TV over the last year, the pair have been nominated together for best presenter.
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