Ant and Dec launch their first podcast, Hanging Out, as part of new Belta Box platform

Ant and Dec are to host their first podcast, as a part of a brand new digital leisure channel arrange by the TV presenters.

The podcast, titled Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, will launch later this month and see the duo catch up about their lives and take questions and feedback from listeners.

It’s a part of the pair’s new Belta Field model, which might be on platforms together with YouTube, Fb, Instagram and TikTok, and also will host basic clips from their TV careers in addition to “new digital codecs”.

“We requested our viewers if we did a podcast what would they prefer it be about, and so they stated ‘we simply need you guys to hang around’,” Declan Donnelly stated in a press release.

“So that is what we’re doing – Ant & I do not get to hang around as a lot as we used to, so it is excellent for us.”

The pair lately signed a contract extension with ITV to proceed presenting exhibits together with I am A Superstar, Britain’s Obtained Expertise and Limitless Win.

Their push for viewers on YouTube in addition to TV will enable them to “have their cake and eat it”, stated Alex Hudson, journalist and co-host of tech podcast Crashed.

“Ant and Dec have simply prolonged their ITV contract by one other three years whereas they attempt to get this firm up and working,” he stated.

“To allow them to take their rumoured £30m contract and, even when this new firm would not work out, will nonetheless be a number of the finest paid presenters within the trade.”

Hanging Out with Ant & Dec is ready to launch its first episode on Thursday 22 January, with additional episodes each fortnight and bonus episodes each Monday.

Whereas the pair are “late to the occasion” in terms of podcasting, it comes at a time when the digital panorama continues to be quickly increasing, Hudson stated.

“The worldwide market is estimated at round £25bn and is projected to succeed in almost £100bn by the tip of the last decade.

“The British public already feels it has a relationship with them and this permits them to speak immediately with audiences and develop a special enterprise mannequin.

“Nevertheless it’s laborious with out the backing of conventional broadcasters and conventional promoting fashions, so they could battle after the preliminary buzz dies down.”

Ant and Dec’s podcast is described as having “no script, no agenda, and no interruptions – it is the duo catching up, reminiscing, and seeing the place the dialog takes them”.

Viewers and listeners can have the ability to form the conversations every week, with the pair asking the viewers to ask questions and share anecdotes.

Each the podcast and Belta Field are produced by Ant & Dec’s personal firm, Mitre Studios.

The Belta Field channel went live on YouTube on Friday with preliminary clips from the duo’s earlier TV sequence akin to Byker Grove, SM:TV and Saturday Evening Takeaway.

Ant McPartlin stated launching the channel felt like a “pure subsequent step” after the pair had “spent our entire careers celebrating nice leisure”.

The pair’s transfer to YouTube might be as helpful to the video platform as it’s to the Geordie TV duo, based on Hudson.

YouTube already dominates a lot of the short-form, creator-led and viral video market, he famous.

“What YouTube would not dominate is the Netflix-style long-form TV viewing,” he continued. “When MrBeast wished to supply extra severe TV content material, he selected Amazon Prime somewhat than sticking with simply YouTube.

“YouTube needs to alter that. Ant and Dec needs to be a part of that considering.”

Whereas the leisure panorama has modified past recognition over the previous 20 years, main networks and on-screen expertise are nonetheless determining how finest to earn cash from streaming platforms.

Earlier this week, data from industry ratings body Barb advised YouTube had overtaken the BBC for the primary time on the finish of final yr by way of month-to-month viewers attain.

Nevertheless, YouTube was solely forward on one metric, based mostly on audiences who watch content material on any platform for 3 minutes. The BBC stays forward of YouTube for consumption of longer-form content material.

On Friday, the Financial Times reported the BBC is gearing as much as announce a brand new landmark content material take care of YouTube, which can reportedly see the company make programmes for the platform for the primary time.

The paper stated the BBC would be capable to generate extra money from the transfer by exhibiting promoting alongside the brand new programmes when proven exterior the UK.

The BBC and YouTube haven’t commented on the rumoured deal.