ZapGossip

Ant and Dec form coronavirus ‘cohort’

Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have formed a "cohort" during the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular double act – who are working together on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and "other" television projects – have explained the arrangement they have which allows them to bypass social distancing guidelines.

Hugging his friend on the ‘This Morning’ sofa on Tuesday (01.09.20), Ant explained: "We’re working on Britain’s Got Talent at the moment – and other things – so we get tested every four days."

Dec added: "Like Premiership footballers! That’s where the similarity ends – but we get tested every four or five days.

"So basically, our households are connected and we form a cohort. So we can sit next to each other, and touch and kiss!"

Although the pair’s arrangement makes things easier for them professionally during the pandemic, there are still some limitations when it comes to keeping safe.

Ant said: "We’ve gotta be careful as to where we go and who we see."

Dec quipped: "There’s nothing new there!"

The Geordie stars – who are releasing tell-all book ‘Once Upon A Tyne’ – were talking to ‘This Morning’ presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby as they made their return to the daytime show after a summer break.

Conversation also turned to Holly’s stint alongside Dec hosting ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ in 2018, when Ant took time away from the spotlight to enter rehab following a drink driving conviction.

Reflecting on his decision to ask Holly to step in, Dec joked: "Well, there was one person – they said no, so then I said Holly. [laughs]

"No, no – there was only one person. I said ‘There’s a very, very short list of one person that I want to do it’, and it was Hol.

"I say it in the book and we go into it a bit – I didn’t want another guy stood next to me. I wanted a girl, and when that was the case there was only one person who I wanted and that was Hol.

"Thankfully she said yes! And we had a lovely time, it was really fun."