"Alright Declan" Mike sighed "don't get annoyed,it doesn't actually matter that it's not recording for a few months as..."

"How can it not matter?" Dec cut in furiously.

"Well,if you'll let me finish" Mike paused for a moment "are you busy?can I pop over?then I can discuss things with you and Ant properly in person"

"Nah,we're not busy" Dec replied,now starting to calm down a little bit "come on over"

"Good" Mike smiled down the line "I've got something for you both too"

Dec had very little interest in what that might be.All he could think about was the next eight months of doing nothing,it wasn't the money side of things that was bothering him so much,he and Ant had both built up a nice little nest egg for themselves,although they now had to pay their own rent on the flat,having parted ways with Telstar,but they could afford it.It was more the not being seen on television for eight months,kids grow up fast,what if their young fans had lost interest in them by August?he also knew he would be completely bored,trying to keep himself entertained for all that time,Ant often described him as a little buzzy bee,buzzing from one thing to another constantly,just like a bee pollinating from flower to flower.

Mike arrived at the flat around half an hour later.

"Make yourself comfortable Mike" Ant smiled as he placed a cup of tea down on the coffee table in front of him "two sugars,just how you like it"

"Oh sorry Ant" Mike frowned "forgot to say,cutting down on the old sugar now,new years resolution,the wife has got me on a bit of a health kick,trying to get rid of this" he patted his paunchy belly,then proceeded to rummage through the bag he'd plonked down carelessly at his feet and produced a small pot of sweeteners.

"No worries Mike" Ant smiled "I'll make you another "we've probably all got a bit of Christmas weight to lose"

"Not me" Dec smirked.

"Yeah well,you're young" Mike laughed "just wait till you get to my age,then it'll be a different story"

"Won't happen" Dec replied smugly "I'm always gonna be a catch me"

"Ha" Ant laughed out loud "just wait till you start losing your hair,let's see if you'll be such a catch then"

"That definitely isn't gonna happen" Dec frowned even though that was one thing he was extremely worried about.

"Well" Ant stated "judging by your dad and brothers thinning crowns,I think it's very likely it will happen to you too"

"No it won't" Dec replied sternly "I won't allow it"

"Like you can stop it" Ant laughed.

"Anyway alot of girls like a bald head" Dec grinned "find it a turn on"

"Do they now?" Ant laughed "have you asked Clare about that?"

"Alright boys" as much as Mike was enjoying this little spat between Ant and Dec,he wanted to get back to more pressing matters "I just didn't want any sugar in my tea,didn't want to cause world war three,here I've got something for you"

He went back into his bag and pulled out two clunky,rectangular objects still on their boxes.

"What the hell...?" Ant frowned as he pulled one out of its packaging.

"It's a mobile phone Anthony" Mike announced,stating the obvious while proceeding to pass a second phone to Dec "it's 1998,everyone's using them now,you boys need to get with the times,they're all the rage and it'll make communication between us all alot easier,I won't always have to wait until you're home before I can get hold of you if we need to speak now"

"It's so heavy" Dec frowned "how are we supposed to carry these things around with us all day?won't fit in my jeans pocket"

"Get a bag" Mike advised "like mine" he nodded towards the bag resting at his feet.

"That's a handbag" Dec observed.

"It is not a handbag" Mike retorted "it's basically a briefcase,but one that goes over your shoulder,much easier to carry and harder to be nicked"

"So it's a man bag?" Ant laughed.

"If you like Anthony" Mike sighed,desperately wanting to move the conversation on "if that's what you want to call it?you go ahead"

"Can't imagine these becoming very popular" Dec frowned,while turning the phone over in his hands and giving it a good look over suspiciously "who wants to carry something as heavy as a brick around with them all the time?mobile phones?what a daft idea,they'll soon die out like any other silly phase"

"Ok Declan" Mike laughed "let's not worry about them any longer shall we?they're there if you need them,but it's totally up to you whether you use them or not?so let's talk about the new show now shall we?"

"Oh my God" Dec stated suddenly "I just thought of something else"

"What?" Ant and Mike asked in unison,slightly alarmed at Decs tone.

"Our Mams will be able to get hold of us twenty four seven with these things" he replied.

"Alright Dec" Mike laughed "forget about the damn phone will you?I'll take them back if you really aren't keen and anyway,you don't have to tell your mothers about them just yet do you?now can we please get on with discussing the more important stuff before I totally lose my mind?"

"Yeah sorry" Ant stepped in "we'll keep the phones,thanks for that,it was nice of you wasn't it Declan?"

"Er yeah...thanks" Dec mumbled.

"Ok good and ITV will be picking up the phone bill" Mike announced "now let's get back to SMTV live,sounds good doesn't it?"

"Sounds great" Ant smiled.

"Would sound even better if we didn't have to wait till August for it to start" Dec moaned.

"Alright Declan" Mike sighed "I can see you've got your Mister negativity pants on today"

Dec grimaced at that description as Mike continued.

"Well,there's really no need" the kind manager smiled "have you any idea just how much work and planning goes into making a new programme?"

"Quite alot I'd imagine" Ant answered.

"Well,you'd be right" Mike stated "a live three hour show once a week is a hell of a commitment and they need alot of ideas to fill that time,so that eight months will be very useful indeed"

"What about us?" Dec frowned.

"I was just getting to that" Mike smiled "you guys are going to be involved in just about every step of the way.ITV are really keen to have your input,so you'll attend any meetings and any ideas you might come up with,they'll be happy to take into consideration,the production,the lot,so what do you think?It's looking good boys right?"

"Really?" Dec asked excitedly "they really want us involved that much?"

"Yeah of course they do" Mike smiled "you guys know your stuff and you've got your own production company now,so why wouldn't they use you to the most of your capabilities?they'd be daft not to"

"That sounds brilliant" Ant smiled "can't wait to get started...umm...when will that be?"

"Straight away" Mike smiled "well in a couple of weeks to be precise.There's alot to do to get this off of the ground,so we need these eight months and I promise you Declan,you won't have any time to get bored,not to mention you'll still be earning a wage,so you don't need to worry about that"

"I wasn't" Dec shrugged.

"Oh and there's one little detail I forgot to mention" Mike smiled.

"What's that?" Ant enquired.

"There's going to be a music programme straight afterwards and you guys will be hosting that too" Mike informed them.

"What?" Dec asked cautiously "what kind of music programme?"

"Just a countdown of the charts" Mike grinned "chat about music and interviewing some of the singers and musicians,it's ITV's version of Top of the pops,it's called CD:UK,I think it will be great"

"Sounds good" Ant smiled "I'm up for a bit of that,how about you Decs?"

"Yeah of course" Dec grinned "sounds fun"

"Great" Mike smiled "you've got this boys,I just know it,Saturday mornings are going to be your forte,I can just feel it"

"Thanks Mike" Ant smiled "it's nice that you have such faith in us"

"That's what you pay me for" Mike quipped.

Ant and Dec were both delighted that they were going to be involved so intensely with planning the new show and after what felt like hundreds of meetings where loads of ideas had been floated around,they'd settled on what looked like a fun schedule,everything was put into place,now the only thing left to do was find the third presenter.

The ITV top dogs had finally convinced Ant and Dec that this would be a good idea and they had decided on a female presenter to even out the balance a bit,they'd even told the boys that it was being left to them to find her and that turned out to be a much quicker process than they expected.

"Nice girl" Ant stated as the first candidate left the room where they were holding the interviews.

"Yeah she was" Dec sighed "but didn't really feel any chemistry,did you?"

"I guess not" Ant agreed "we need to click one hundred percent with whoever gets this job,it won't work otherwise"

"Exactly" Dec nodded as the second interviewee strolled confidently into the room and made a beeline towards the two men sitting in front of her.

Dec took her hand immediately as she held it out for him to shake.

"I'm Cat" the girl announced "Cat Deeley"

"Nice to meet you Cat" Dec smiled "and I'm Dec..."

"Declan Donnelly" Cat interrupted "yeah I know who you are"

She turned her attention towards Ant "and you're Anthony McPartlin" who also shook her hand.

The boys were quite enchanted by the pretty girl who was happily chatting about her life with them.

"I have met you before actually" she announced.

"Really?" Dec mused "where was that?"

"Well when I say met" Cat continued "i actually mean I ate in the same restaurant as you one time"

"Oh ok" Ant smiled "that was nice"

"Well,no it wasn't actually" Cat frowned "you were sat on the table next to us and were very loud,drunk and obnoxious,not to mention being extremely rude to my boyfriend"

"We wouldn't do that" Dec insisted "we're never unnecessarily rude"

"Really?" Cat announced in a high pitched voice "it wasn't that long ago Declan,do you remember being at the Chinese restaurant?my french boyfriend and I were at the next table and you were so rude to him that we had to ask to move tables"

"Oh God that" Dec exclaimed shocked,the memory of his drunken antics of only a few weeks ago coming flooding back,well those he could actually recall anyway "that was you?"

"Yep" Cat grinned "made a right fool of yourself that night didn't you?and ruined my romantic night out with my boyfriend you did.It was our six month anniversary"

"Oh no,I'm so sorry" Dec squirmed with embarrassment "please forgive me,I didn't know it was your anniversary,I'm really,really sorry"

"So if it hadn't been our anniversary" Cat thought out loud "it would have been ok to behave like that?"

"Er...no...of course not" Dec looked at the floor embarrassed,wincing as he gave his answer "I really am sorry,I can only apologise profoundly for my behaviour"

"Yeah and mine" Ant sighed "we're both very sorry"

"Well,you weren't quite as bad as him Anthony,bad enough though,but maybe it's my boyfriend you should be apologising to" Cat suggested "Baptiste was so upset that you ruined our special night"

"Baptiste?" Dec giggled.

"Declan" Ant snapped,this poor girl was upset enough without Dec taking the piss out of her boyfriends name.

"Yes Baptiste" Cat retorted "it's a very popular french name I'll have you know and a very lovely name it is too"

"Umm...ok" Dec replied uncomfortably "well if you just bring him in sometome,then I'll apologise and so will Ant,right Ant?"

"Er...yeah of course" Ant smiled awkwardly "although Dec was the loudest and most pissed out of us that night"

"Oh throw me under the bus why don't you?" Dec moaned.

"Don't need to throw you under the bus Decs" Ant laughed "sounds like Cat here has pretty much got you sussed out"

"Yeah I have" Cat grinned "and I've already sussed out what complete suckers you both are"

"What?" Ant and Dec replied together.

"I said you're complete suckers" Cat repeated,falling about laughing "the both of you,you'll believe anything"

Suddenly the penny dropped for both Ant and Dec.

"Hey" Dec frowned "you mean you made that little story up?"

"Might have" Cat laughed "got ya squirming though didn't I?"

"But I don't understand" Dec continued "if it wasn't you with that french guy,how did you know about all of that?"

"Wasn't hard" Cat grinned "only took a phone call to some of the people here,gotcha didn't I?"

"Yeah you really did" Ant laughed,now seeing the funny side.

"So have I got the job?" Cat asked hopefully.

"I think someone who comes to a job interview or audition,whatever you want to call it?with that much cheek,should definitely get the job,you'll fit right in" Ant smiled.

"Yeah,I agree" Dec laughed "you've got a hell of a nerve"

"Soooo?" Cat asked.

"Well I'd like you to be our co-presenter" Ant smiled "what do you think Dec?"

"Definitely" Dec agreed "we've got other girls to see,but you know what?"

"What?" Cat replied curiously.

"I don't think we'll even bother meeting them" Dec smiled "we've met our match right here,this is our trio,Ant,Dec and Cat,it's perfect"

All three left the meeting happy with the outcome,they knew it was going to work,it just felt right.Finding Cat had been the last piece of the puzzle and now it was complete.

The show was now all systems go,everything was ready,so on August 29th 1998,the time had finally come around to introduce it to the unsuspecting public.

"And now on ITV this fine Saturday morning" the announcer addressed the country.

"It's time for our brand new kids show,SMTV live!"