"Did you hear that Declan?" Ant enquired enthusiastically as he hung up the phone.

"I did" Dec had the hugest,most cheesy grin spread across his face "we're gonna be on Top of the pops"

"Yeah,imagine that" Ant laughed.

Top of the pops had been one of the most popular programmes on British television for years,especially amongst young people,it was the usual subject of conversation at schools all over the country on Friday mornings after it's Thursday evening broadcast.

"When are we doing it?" Dec enquired.

"Wednesday" Ant replied "we'll be there all day,usual eight o'clock in the morning pick up,then it'll be prerecorded and in the bag ready to go out on Thursday"

"That's only a few days away" Dec beamed "can't wait"

"Yeah,then hopefully the song will have shot up the charts by the weekend" Ant replied.

The following Wednesday Ant and Dec were up early and waiting on the kerb side for their lift,keen to be picked up as soon as possible and taken to start their day.For once Ant didn't have to nag Dec into getting out of bed,his excitement did that for him,he was actually ready before Ant.

As the car pulled up to collect them,the boys looked confused at the strangers face inside.Who was this?they knew just about everyone at Telstar by now,but assumed they had just employed a new driver.

"Anthony,Declan" the person summoned the boys towards the car "get in"

"Umm..hello" Dec smiled as he and Ant climbed into the back seat "nice to meet you"

"Nice to meet you both too" the man replied "I'm Mike Faux"

"Hi Mike" Ant smiled "you're a new driver for Telstar then I assume?"

"Well you assume wrong" Mike laughed "I'm your manager"

"Our manager?" the boys replied at exactly the same time.

"Yes,your manager" Mike couldn't help but laugh at their shocked reaction to this news.

"We have a manager?" Ant asked slightly suspiciously.

"Yes you do" Mike grinned "and I am him"

"Wow" Dec giggled "how important are we?"

"I'll be taking care of all your business from now on" Mikes voice took on a serious tone "everything you do.....or rather everything PJ and Duncan do gets run by me first from.It will be my job to take care of your bookings,to make sure everything runs smoothly and to look after you guys,I will basically be the third member of PJ and Duncan"

"Sounds like you're babysitting us" Dec frowned.

"Maybe I am" Mike smiled warmly "but trust me,I know what I'm doing ok?"

"Ok" the boys replied.

"But what about Steve?" Dec frowned "he's been taking care of us so far"

"Steve isn't a manager" Mike pointed out "he's been doing what he can,but that's not actually his job,so that's where I come in"

"We'll miss him" Dec said sadly.

"He's not dead you know" Mike laughed "he still works for Telstar,you can still see him,just maybe not as much"

Dec shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

Once they arrived at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire,the excitement got the better of Dec once again.He was desperate for a tour of where everything would be taking place,to see the stages where so many iconic bands and singers had taken their places before them,he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Star wars was filmed here ya know" Ant observed as he looked around at the buildings while Mike drove into the large car park "well,some of the star wars films were"

"I know that you geek" Dec laughed.

"This is your dressing room" Mike announced after the trio entered the building and made their way down the corridor that was adorned with pictures of famous performers on the walls,he proceeded to show Ant and Dec in to a small room.

"It's tiny" Dec moaned.

"Doesn't matter" Mike assured him "it's just to get changed in"

After dropping their stuff off,Mike took them to meet some of the people working on the show who explained how things would work.They were informed that they would do a couple of rehearsals with the backing dancers,then be filmed lip synching for the show.

"Lip synching?" Dec asked shocked "you mean we have to mime?we're not actually gonna be singing?"

"Yes that's right" Tim,one of the crew confirmed.

"What the actual fuck....?" Dec couldn't hide his bitter disappointment.

"Declan" Ant snapped,he knew just saying his friends name sharply would keep him in check.

"Sorry" Dec mumbled "but I thought we were singing live,that's what we were told anyway.Since when have people mimed to their songs on Top of the pops?"

"Since always" Tim announced "it's been the same since the beginning"

Dec was feeling rather distraught that the programme he'd watched so religiously every week growing up turned out to be based on a lie.He didn't know why it bothered him so much,but it just did,he felt like he'd been kicked in the gut.He genuinely believed all those artists had been performing live,as a little boy it felt like they were singing directly to him through the television set when he watched them.This was almost as bad as the day when he finally realised that Father Christmas wasn't real.

"But why?" Dec whined "why can't people just sing live?"

"Well,apparently they tried it for a few weeks back in the sixties" Tim said "but it didn't work out well,so went back to the original format"

"Surely things have moved on since the sixties?" Dec frowned "technology and all that has improved"

"Yeah I guess it has" Tim replied "but it just works this way,so why fix what ain't broken?"

"Hate that phrase" Dec grumbled "I just can't believe I never realised all these years"

"You weren't supposed to realise" Tim smiled "that's the whole point,at least that says the singers were doing a good job with their lip synching.Have you never noticed that all those electric guitars and synthesisers and all that stuff weren't actually plugged into anything?"

"What?" Dec muttered to himself,now he just felt incredibly stupid,not only was the singing mimed but the musical instruments weren't actually being played either?

"Guess I'm just an idiot for not realising all that then" Dec sighed.

"Hey,you're not an idiot" Ant nudged his disappointed friend in the ribs "I never knew either"

"If it's any consolation" Tim smiled "you weren't supposed to know and why should you?that's exactly what we were aiming for"

"I still don't get it" Dec sighed "they can put on a huge live concert like Live Aid that's broadcast all around the world from outdoor stadiums as it happens,but not a programme in an actual studio that lasts for less than an hour,doesn't make sense to me"

"Please don't overthink this Declan and I'm sorry no one informed you how things worked here" Tim advised while giving a sly,meaningful glance in Mikes direction "it just works the way it is"

"But then why do we need to rehearse it if we're not even gonna be singing live?" Dec asked confused.

"Because" Tim replied "you still need to get the lip synching just right so it looks like you are"

"That makes sense then" Ant smiled.

"Anyway,please don't worry about all that" Tim continued "some other artists will be rehearsing first,we'll need you in about an hour or two,so until then,you can just chill in your dressing room or there's a cafe over there" he nodded in the direction of the BBC canteen "or feel free to watch the rehearsals"

"Thanks" Ant and Dec chimed.

"I've got some phone calls to make" Mike announced before walking off leaving the boys alone.

"Don't be down about it pal" Ant smiled,placing an arm around Decs shoulder "it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things,we're still gonna be on Top of the pops"

"Yeah,I know,you're right" Dec replied sadly "it was just a bit of a shock that's all,wasn't expecting that like,how could we have watched it all these years and not know?"

"We were kids" Ant laughed "we weren't supposed to notice things like that"

"Guess not" Dec smiled "what do you want to do then?I wouldn't mind watching the other acts rehearse"

"Sounds good to me" Ant agreed "don't think they're starting for a good few minutes at least though,fancy having a look around?"

"Yeah,why not?" Dec replied.

They had soon seen all the studios where the likes of Grange Hill,Blue Peter and Eastenders amongst other things were filmed and were back in the Top of the pops filming area ready to watch the first band rehearse.

"I wonder which DJ they've got introducing us?" Ant asked out loud.

"Ooh yeah,I wonder" Dec replied "Bruno Brooks maybe?Simon Mayo?"

"Or Nicky Campbell?" Ant said.

"I like all of them" Dec grinned "so I don't mind who it is,will be great to meet any of them though"

Before Ant had a chance to reply,an extremely camp voice came through the loud speaker.

"And now on Top of the pops....."

"Whaaaat?" Dec laughed "that ain't no Radio one DJ"

"No" Ant agreed "that's Julian Clary,what's he doing here?"

"Maybe all the DJs were busy?" Dec pondered as he listened to the popular flamboyant entertainer rehearsing to introduce an act.

"Will be nice to meet him too" Ant stated.

"Yeah it will" Dec agreed "Pat will be impressed,she thinks he's hilarious"

The boys spent the next hour and a half watching the acts before their turn to rehearse finally came around.

"This lip synching business ain't so bad after all" Dec announced casually after they were done,now aware that he may have overreacted a tad "pretty easy just to singalong to a song and there's no chance of hitting a bum note"

"Exactly" Ant replied "let's just enjoy it shall we?I need to go to the loo"

Once Ant returned from his toilet break,he had trouble finding Dec amongst all the people milling around,he knew they'd catch up with each other sooner rather than later,so decided to just chat to some of the other acts.

After a while,he was getting curious as to where Dec had disappeared to,so decided to go and look for him.

Before long,he spotted his best friend cosy in a corner talking to a girl.Once Dec noticed Ant watching him,he made his excuses and made his way back over.

"Who's that?" Ant asked curiously.

"Her name's Clare" Dec beamed "she's really interesting"

"Interesting?" Ant laughed.

"Ok,she's really hot" Dec giggled "I asked her out"

"Did you now?" Ant laughed "what did she say"

"She said yes" Dec stated proudly.

"When?" Ant asked "and where?where are you taking her?"

"Don't know yet" Dec grinned "haven't arranged anything,but she's given me her phone number"

He took the folded up piece of paper out of his pocket and waved it under Ants nose.

"We're both pretty busy,so I don't know when it'll happen,but it will happen,I promise you that" Dec smiled "She's an actress you know"

"Yeah,I guessed that,she looks familiar" Ant replied.

"We've met her before" Dec went on "albeit very briefly"

"Have we?" Ant was confused for a moment,but then again,they'd met alot of people since their early days at Byker Grove,there was no reason for him to remember her in particular.

"Yeah remember there was that party for the Grange Hill and Byker Grove cast and crew back when we were there?" Dec tried to jog Ants memory "well,she was there,at that party,I talked to her then a little bit,she was in Grange Hill"

"That party was shit wasn't it?" Ant mused "didn't we only stay an hour?"

"Yeah it was" Dec laughed "you must have seen her in Grange Hill?"

"I've never watched it" Ant stated bluntly.

"She's in 2point4 children now" Dec informed him.

"Never watch that either" Ant shrugged.

"Doesn't matter anyway" Dec smiled "what matters is that I like her and she likes me,so we'll hopefully be going on a date"

"Good luck to you then" Ant smiled,delighted to see his little friend so happy about his upcoming romantic encounter,although he decided he would have to up his dating game also.No way did he want to be left alone at the Bed and Breakfast in the evenings while Dec sauntered around London with a beautiful woman.

"And guess what?" Dec grinned.

"Hmm?" Ant was pulled abruptly out of his thoughts.

"Guess what?" Dec repeated.

"What?" Ant enquired.

"She's an identical twin" Dec giggled.

"Really?" Ant laughed "oh my God Dec,don't get involved with identical twins,they'll be playing all sorts of tricks on you,pretending to be each other and all that"

"I can handle it" Dec winked "maybe I can set you up with her sister,double dates"

"Don't even go there Declan" Ant laughed.

Soon the recording for the following nights show was under way and Ant and Dec threw themselves into their routine.The young audience danced and sang along to the track enthusiastically,with many young girls unable to tear their gaze away from the boys even for a second,their eyes looking up at the good looking duo on stage dreamily in the hope they might get a small smile or wave,anything to actually acknowledge that PJ and Duncan knew of their existence.

"That was great" Ant smiled as he and Dec came off stage and wiped their sweaty brows.They made their way back to the dressing room where Mike was waiting.

"Great job boys" he smiled "watched it from behind the cameras,that'll be top ten next week,I guarantee it"

"Hope so" Dec replied as he started to get changed out of his clammy clothes.

"There's a shower in the room opposite" Mike informed them.

"Oh really" Dec mumbled "didn't realise,haven't brought any soap or anything with me"

"There's some in there" Mike stated "and shampoo and all that"

"Eeewww" Ant grimaced "don't know where that soap's been,whos arse crack it's been on"

Mike let out a loud roar of laughter "ok,I get your point,I guess you'll just be stinking up my car until i get you back then?"

"I guess we will" Dec laughed.

Once they started to make their way through the studios towards the car park,Dec spotted Clare again chatting to some unknown person.

She soon felt the burn of the adoring teenage boys eyes on her face and turned to smile in his direction.As Dec returned the gesture,Clare held her hand up to her ear in a fake telephone action.With an even broader warm grin taking over her face,she mouthed two words in Decs direction that made him brim with confidence.

"Call me!"