"It's time for the SM:TV postbag" Ant announced as he,Dec and Cat arose from their seats to perform the simple dance that went along with the 'Postbag' section of the programme.They performed this little jig every week and knew it like the backs of their hands,it was also easy enough for the kids in the studio to join in,which is what the presenters wanted.

'This Is gonna be good' Dec thought to himself as he,Ant and Cat launched into the routine.

Dec was about to call on his acting skills to convince the audience at home and in the studio that he was actually feeling pretty ill!

As the pop groups Westlife and B*witched joined them on set,he stumbled through the dance with an impressive amount of huffing and puffing and attempting to look convincingly sick,although it seemed that no one had actually noticed that anything was up.

As the short burst of music came to an end,Dec dramatically dropped to the floor while holding his hands to his face and laid motionless,face down.

"What's he doing? Cat casually enquired as a member of the crew rushed over to check their star presenter out.

"Is he alright?" Ant asked,arising up from the cushioned bench that he'd literally only just sat down on and looked down at his friend lying prostrate on the floor "what's he doing?"

"What's he doing?" Cat repeated.

"Dec,are you alright?" Ant asked.

Still complete silence from Dec.

"Can someone get the nurse?" Cat called out "someone get the nurse,Chloe?"

No one at home knew who Chloe was,but it seemed she was definitely needed at that precise moment.

As the television screens of the homes of the nation were momentarily filled with a colourful,striped picture before cutting to a pokemon cartoon,Ant could be heard for a final time asking "Dec,are you alright?"

Some people in the studio fussed around Dec,although not all of them seemed overly concerned,he had to stop himself from bursting into fits of giggles,he found it hard to stay still at the best of times,so this took some concentration,he thought how hilarious everyone would find this once they realised what he was actually up to.

Once he knew that the director had given the cue to cut the live feed,he quickly jumped to his feet with the cheesiest grin on his face.

"Declan...what the hell?" The director, Brendan asked confused "are you ok?what happened?"

"Yeah,I'm fine" Dec laughed.

"But you fainted Dec" Brendan continued "you should see a doctor"

"No I didn't and no I shouldn't" Dec replied.

"Don't worry Brendan" Ant smiled "I knew he was faking it,he's not that great an actor,check the date"

"Hey" Dec squealed with mock offence and an over exaggerated grumpy face "I am too a great actor"

"April the first" Brendan stated,suddenly twigging on to what was going on in front of him "Declan,you fucking idiot,I've got people going nuts at me here" he tapped his headset which linked him up to other crew members working on the programme and those higher up in the ranks.

"What?" Dec giggled innocently.

"The phone lines are going crazy" Brendan informed him angrily "members of the public calling in,worried about you,there's little kids at home sobbing in front of their televisions because they think they just watched you die in front of their eyes,they think you're dead"

"Oh don't be so ridiculous Brendan" Dec sighed "our viewers aren't that stupid,they'll get it"

"Dec" Brendan continued "our viewers come in all age ranges,some are too young to realise what was going on and the parents are pretty pissed off about it all too.The phones are ringing off the hooks,you won't believe how many calls they've had up in the gallery in just a few minutes,with people wanting to know how you are?if you're dead or alive?"

"Over reaction" Dec mumbled "Ant wasn't even in on the joke and he never thought for a minute that it was real,did you Ant?"

"Nah,of course not" Ant smiled "it was pretty obvious it was all an act"

"Well,Ant knows you really well personally doesn't he?" Brendan fumed "the people at home don't,I think you've got some explaining to do"

"I have just explained" Dec shrugged "it's April fools day"

"Not to me you idiot,to the viewers" Brendan retorted "and to the guys upstairs,they are going to have something to say about all this"

Dec squirmed at the thought of who Brendan was referring to,he knew he meant the people who were the top brass at ITV,the management,the board of executives,the directors,the producers,they'd definitely have an opinion on his shenanigans and it was unlikely to be in Decs favour,he really hadn't thought his impromptu stunt through properly.

"Anyway,the cartoon has nearly finished" Brendan stated "we're back live in a couple of minutes,so you need to explain yourself to the viewers and show them you're ok"

As the new part of the show started,the camera zoomed in on Ant tapping along on some telephones to a catchy song,before panning to a grinning Declan.

He couldn't keep the cheeky smile off of his face as he turned back to glance at Ant before looking back to camera.

"Hiya,welcome to 'Dec says'" Dec smiled as he introduced the next part of the show,stuttering through his announcement "now before..er..part two of Pokemon there..um..something happened here in the studio..um..I.. I just keeled over..er I..I collapsed.I wasn't feeling too well,but er..thanks for all of your concerns and no need to be alarmed.Thanks for your concern and I'd just like to say..."

"Happy April fools day" he grinned directly into the camera and gave a full on cheeky wink to everyone who was watching at home,who were no doubt both relieved and angry in equal measures at Decs little prank.

"I hope you weren't too concerned?" Dec asked again.

"They weren't concerned at all man" Ant called out from behind him.

"Shut up,shut up" Dec replied playfully.

The rest of the show went off without a hitch and Dec tried to put the dressing down he was more than likely about to get to the back of his mind.

Brendan hadn't been wrong about how angry people were as Ant,Dec and Cat sat around the boardroom table,sitting quietly while they got a good telling off,just wanting to get it over and done with.

Dec insisted Ant and Cat hadn't had anything to do with the joke and it had been all him,but the other people present weren't sure if they believed him or not.Everyone knew about the strong bond between the three presenters,that's what made the show work so well after all,so if Dec said it was just him,there was not alot that they could do to get anymore information out of him.Even if he was lying to protect his friends,they just had to let that one go.

He apologised profusely and swore nothing like that would ever happen again and it was made quite clear that if it did,he would be out on his ear,he had one more chance,although in reality,that was the last thing ITV wanted.Ant and Dec were very popular and were becoming even more so with every passing day.ITV wanted to hang on to them,these lads could be real money spinners,but they also had to make it clear that no star is bigger than the programme they starred in and could be replaced if necessary.

The threesome made their way back to their dressing rooms and after Dec had gracefully accepted his telling off,he thought that was the end of it, until he pulled his mobile phone out of his jacket pocket.

"Eight missed calls" he mumbled nervously.

"Who from?" Ant enquired.

"Five from Mam and three from Clare" Dec winced.

"Oh shit" Ant laughed "now you're in real trouble,what time did your Mam call?"

Dec glanced at the times shown on screen that his mother had tried to contact him.

"Five calls in the eight minutes Pokemon was on air" Dec frowned "never thought about her watching,she doesn't so much these days,says it's all a bit childish for her"

"Well,in fairness,it's not aimed at women her age" Ant shrugged as he glanced at his own phone.

"That's not the point right now is it?" Dec sighed "she's gonna be so mad at me"

"Shit" Ant stated.

"What?" Dec asked worriedly.

"I've got two missed calls from her too" Ant sighed "poor women must be terrified about what's happened to you,you'd better call her back and face the music then" Ant suggested "tell her you're alright like"

"Suppose so" Dec reluctantly agreed.

"Did she leave a message?" Ant asked curiously.

"Yeah" Dec sighed "I'm a bit scared to listen to it,she's gonna kick off at us"

"Can't blame her can you?" Ant replied "if she just watched her son be taken ill on live telly,not knowing if he's dead or alive,I'd imagine she's in a bit of a state,poor woman.I just hope she watched the next part of the show so she knows that you're fine or it's very possible that she's on a train down here as we speak"

"Oh God,don't say that" Dec winced "I couldn't cope"

"Let's listen to this message then" Ant encouraged his reluctant friend.

"Declan,it's your Mam" came the worried voice on the answer machine.Dec didn't even need to put the gadget on speaker phone as the frantic parent was practically shouting anyway.

"Please call me,I saw you on your programme" Anne continued "what happened love?oh please call me as soon as you can,I'm so worried about you,I can't get hold of anyone,Ant's not answering his phone either.Me and your father are frantic with worry,please call me when you can,I've just spoken to Pat briefly,she's waiting for news once we've heard from you"

"Oh God" Dec whispered,how could his playful little April fools prank now be having such serious repercussions?he just wanted to have a laugh,trick everyone like was it was traditional to do on this day every year,how had it all gone so horribly wrong?

He listened to his Mams second message,which was just her ordering him to call her back as soon as it was physically possible,she hadn't left a message with the rest of the calls.

Just as Dec was about to call his mother,there was a knock on the dressing room door.

"Dec,there's a phone call for you" the runner Jenny announced "do you want to come and take it?"

"Who is it?" Dec asked politely.

"It's your mum" Jenny replied.

"Oh ok" Dec cringed "um..tell her I'll call her right away on my mobile ok?how does she sound?"

"Very upset" the girl informed him "apparently she's been in tears as she couldn't get through to anyone,we've assured her you're alright,but you really need to speak to her"

"I will" Dec sighed "give us a minute,thanks"

"I just wanted to give people a laugh" Dec whispered "what a mess"

"It'll be ok kidda" Ant smiled comfortingly "she'll be angry to start with,but then she'll be so relieved you're ok,that she'll soon forget about it"

"Hope so" Dec sighed,although he wasn't convinced,he knew his Mam only too well and although she was all sweetness and light ninety nine percent of the time,if someone upset her,they'd certainly know about it,especially if it was one of her kids.

"Hi Mam" Dec sighed nervously down the phone line as Ant left the room to give him some privacy.

"Declan" Anne snapped "what on earth have you been up to?have you any idea how worried I've been?"

"I'm sorry Mam" Dec replied sheepishly "it was just an April fools joke,I didn't think you'd be watching"

"Well,I was" Anne snapped "and can you imagine what that was like for me and your father?I'm so disappointed in you Declan"

Ugh!There's that word again Dec thought,how he hated the 'disappointed' guilt trip.He'd not heard it from his Mam for many years,all he ever heard now was how proud she was,she certainly knew how to hit him where it hurt.

"I'm sorry Mam" he mumbled again,there wasn't alot else he could say,he'd just have to let her have her rant before she would eventually forgive him and tell him how much she loved him.He did feel incredibly guilty though,knowing Anne hadn't watched anymore of the programme as she was in such a fluster,trying to get hold of people,therefore missing Decs confession that it had all been a joke.

Thankfully the moment of forgiveness didn't take too long to come around and as Dec said goodbye to his mother,he knew he'd now have to call Clare too and explain everything to her.Although it was likely she would have watched the whole show so already knew the outcome.

She was unsurprisingly,alot more understanding than Anne had been.She and Dec shared a similar sense of humour after all,that's why they got on so well.She gave him a bit of a half hearted telling off for worrying his parents,but otherwise she found the prank hilarious and admitted she only called Decs phone as a prank as well,to make Dec think she was worried too and he was about to feel her wrath.Dec was surprised at himself for not figuring that one out earlier,he should have known,but then again,he was pretty caught up in everyone else giving him a piece of their mind.

So it was actually a relief to talk to Clare,it took his mind off the events of the morning and the aftermath.She told him about the girls night out she had planned with Lisa that evening just as Ant arrived back in the room.

"How did it go?" Ant asked concerned.

"As expected" Dec sighed after he'd said goodbye to his girlfriend "Mam is 'disappointed' in me"

"Oh dear" Ant winced,knowing how that made Dec feel "she'll be fine Decs,she'll get over it"

"Yeah,she will" Dec nodded "spoke to Clare too"

"Oh yeah?" Ant grinned,knowing how that was likely to have gone.

"Yeah" Dec smiled "she thought it was funny.Her and Lisa are going out tonight you know?"

"Yeah I know" Ant replied,gazing at his friend "Lisa told us like"

"That'll be nice then" Dec shrugged "house to meself,better be something good on telly"

Ant laughed at Decs subtle hint,but decided to wind him up a little bit anyway.

"Decs,you don't even live together,you're used to being on your own by now"

"We practically do" Dec stated "it's just my name on the mortgage"

"Bet you love being on your own really?" Ant teased.

"I don't mind it actually" Dec replied "it's just been a heck of a day though and it's only early afternoon"

"Yeah it has" Ant softened "at least it's gone midday so no one can play anymore April fools pranks"

"Thank God for that" Dec replied relieved.

"Decs?" Ant asked.

"Yeah?" Dec replied.

"Would you like to come over?" Ant grinned "stay for lunch and dinner?have a few drinks,then crash the night if you like?the girls can join us later on"

"Yeah,that would be great,thanks" Dec replied,happy that Ant had finally got to the point and Dec knew his best friend would distract him and cheer him up.

He knew he was welcome at Ant and Lisas place anytime and no invitation was necessary,but as he was feeling a bit down about the events of the morning,he didn't want to just assume,Ant might not have wanted to put up with his miserable face having already had a good portion of it at work.Of course that couldn't have been further from the truth!If there's one thing Dec was sure of more than anything else in this life.

It was the fact he could always rely on Ant!