[Arneldo]

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have purchased the rights to their old TV shows Byker Grove and SM:TV Live.

The pair rose to fame on kids' drama Byker Grove where they played PJ and Duncan. They later embarked on a pop career before presenting the Saturday morning programme SM:TV Live with Cat Deeley.

Speaking to The Sun, Dec said: "The shows are an important part of our history so we wanted to take over the rights. That way, if anyone wants to show them, they have to come to us to get permission."

A friend of the presenters revealed that they were eager to purchase the rights to stop digital channels repeating their old shows.

"It's no secret that Ant and Dec are hugely popular so re-running Byker Grove would make sense. But it could prove a bit embarrassing for the guys with their past on such public display."

The shows will now become property of Ant & Dec's Gallowgate Productions TV company.

DS