Ant and Dec once tried to buy the ‘Byker Grove’ youth club building but had their bid rejected.
The national treasures, who won two awards for ‘Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ at the British Academy Television Awards last night (18.05.14), first shot to fame on the BBC children’s drama series filmed in Newcastle and wanted to help others wanting to get into the industry by buying the 13th Century Benwell Tower and using it to hold workshops for young people.
Ant told BANG Showbiz: "A few years ago, I don’t know whether I should say this, but why not? We tried to buy the building that ‘Byker Grove’ was made in and turn it into a performing arts centre but we didn’t get it. So it’s something we’ve definitely looked at [helping others]."
It was reported in 2012 that the turreted Victorian building would instead become an Islamic school and it was originally put on the market for £1 million.
Dec went on to talk about how the pair, who also present ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’, still want to help children realise their dreams.
He said: "If we made it, there must be other kids in the north east who can do it too.
"We’ve talked about it [helping young kids] but we haven’t kind of finalised any details yet. Hopefully we’ll be able to facilitate other kids, like us from the same background, to hopefully get into the industry in some way. But also in Scotland and Wales. Just because they’re not from London doesn’t mean they can’t do it."
Talking about their awards for Entertainment Programme and Entertainment Performance, which they were given at the ceremony at London’s Theatre Royal, Dec added: "It’s just like a dream, I go to work every day with my best mate, we’re winning awards and having a great time and working on amazing shows. It doesn’t really get better than this."
Ant and Dec tried to buy Byker Grove youth club
