"Fancy a quick pint lads?" Paul asked as the meeting regarding the yet to be named programme came to a close.

Ant and Dec were surprised as Paul very rarely socialised with them outside of work,he liked to keep work separate from his private life as much as possible,even though it wasn't easy in his business.

Ant and Dec were never ones to turn down the offer of a trip to a boozer,so they keenly accepted.

Just half an hour later,the three men were sat in the local watering hole where Ant and Dec had become regulars.They loved it here,all the staff and customers knew them by now and usually left them alone to enjoy their drinks in peace,after the usual polite greetings and obligatory chit chat of course.

"So is something on your mind Paul?" Ant enquired "it's not like you to want to socialise with us outside of work"

"Well,it is to do with work actually" Paul announced "I just thought it would be nice to discuss it away from the boardroom and work environment for once"

"I wholeheartedly agree" Dec grinned as he raised his pint of lager and took a huge gulp.

"Anyway" Paul smiled "I just needed to tell you,that I will no longer be able to manage you,because of circumstances beyond my control,I'm afraid I have to move on"

"Oh" Ant exclaimed surprised "that's a shame,you've been so brilliant at it"

He knew better than to pry into Pauls personal life and had no choice but to just accept things as they were,as did Dec.

"We'll miss you Paul" Dec announced sadly "you really have been great to work with"

"Thanks" Paul smiled "so have you two,you're great guys,the both of you and I appreciate how good you have been to me"

"It was our pleasure Paul" Ant smiled as the three men lifted their glasses to toast each other.

"There's one more thing" Paul smiled "finding a new manager to look after you kids"

"Hey,less of the 'kids' thanks very much" Dec winked.

"Ok" Paul laughed "I mean you gentlemen"

"That's more like it" Dec grinned.

"Anyway" Paul continued "you're doing so well in every aspect of your careers now,you've got your own company as well as being a huge part of ours,James Grant was so happy to secure you on their books,you're so popular now"

"Are we?" Dec grinned innocently.

"You know you are" Paul laughed "I don't think I've ever met anyone who works as hard as you do,I'm still amazed how you manage to keep on slipping things into your busy schedules when I'm convinced you'll say no,you should be proud of yourselves"

"Why would we say no?" Dec asked "as long as we like the idea and can find time for it somehow,we'll always say yes"

"Like 'The Likely Lads'?" Paul smiled affectionately,referring to the remake of the popular 60s sitcom that was repeated endlessly throughout the boys childhoods.Ant and Dec had somehow managed to find time for that a while back.

"Yeah,like that" Ant grinned.

"Well,we wanted to do that so badly" Dec smiled "loved that show growing up"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "if it's something you really want to do,you find time for it and make it work somehow"

"Obviously" Paul smiled.

"Was worth it wasn't it?" Dec questioned "had great reviews when it was broadcast and we had such a laugh making it,didn't we Ant"

"Yeah we did" Ant nodded in agreement "and that my friend,is what life is all about"

"And money" Dec cut in.

"Well,yeah" Ant laughed.

"And beer" Dec stated.

"Yep and that" Ant smiled.

"Anyway" Paul wanted to steer the subject back to the original conversation "I think you should interview the candidates yourself,unlike last time when I was just sprung upon you"

"Yeah,would be nice to have a say in it this time" Ant replied "not that we have any regrets with you" he quickly added.

"It's ok Ant" Paul laughed "I know what you mean.I've already checked and rearranged your diaries to fit in some interviews with potential candidates"

"When?" Dec enquired.

"Thursday and Friday" Paul announced.

"Really?that soon?" Ant frowned.

"Well,your new manager will be accompanying you to Australia,so we have no time to lose" Paul informed them.

"Makes sense then I guess" Dec nodded.

"Um Paul...?" Ant said quietly.

"Yeah,what is it?" Paul asked curiously.

"Will you sit in on the interviews with us?" Ant requested "we'd value your opinion,it has to be a very special person who will fill your shoes"

"Yeah,of course I will" Paul smiled,he had actually been hoping that would be the case,he was determined to leave the boys in the most capable hands possible.

So just a couple of days later,the three men were sat around a table in one of the ITV offices.They'd decided that would probably be the most appropriate venue as the boardroom may have been a bit too intimidating for some of the candidates and other places may not have seemed professional enough,Decs idea of doing the interviews in his living room was soon shot to pieces.

A steady stream of potential managers politely came through the office doors over the next couple of days,doing their best to impress the trio and land the much sought after job.

Once the interviews were wrapped up and Paul had left the boys to think about their decision,Ant couldn't help grinning at Dec playfully.

"What?" Dec enquired as he noticed his friends eyes piercing into him.

"You were flirting with her" Ant grinned.

"What?" Dec asked confused "who?flirting with who?"

"You know who" Ant insisted "that blonde woman,the last one we interviewed"

"I was not" Dec stated defensively.

"Oh come on" Ant laughed "you so were,you were fluttering your eyelashes more than she was"

"I was just being polite" Dec insisted "and I wasn't fluttering my eyelashes at anyone"

"Not much you weren't" Ant teased "and what about all that chatting between you and her?seemed to forget me and Paul were in the room for a while didn't you?"

"It was just banter" Dec sighed "I'm like that with everyone"

"Just in this instance,it happened to be a pretty blonde girl" Ant laughed.

"So what?" Dec frowned "and in any case,can I remind you that I've got a girlfriend"

"Yeah you have" Ant smiled "how are things with Clare,I've not spoken to her for ages,don't even think Lisa has"

"Ok I guess" Dec shrugged.

"What is it Decs?" Ant asked,he knew when Dec was trying to hide something from him.

"I don't know" Dec sighed "we're both working so hard at trying to move on from what happened,we have been since all that happened,it's just something doesn't feel right and I can't quite put my finger on it"

"I'm sorry to hear that kidda" Ant replied sadly "I really am,but all relationships have their ups and downs and I have confidence that you two will get through this"

"It's been months though" Dec moaned "we argue so much now,we never used to,I don't think she's forgiven me still,even though she says she has,what I did is thrown back in my face every time we have a row"

"Oh Decs" Ant sighed "why didn't you tell me what was going on?you know how I hate to see you struggling,it's not like you to keep things to yourself"

"Yeah I know" Dec mumbled "I guess I just wanted to forget about how bad things are at home when I'm at work or with you,wanted the distraction I suppose and you're so good at doing that"

"So what are you going to do?" Ant asked concerned.

"Dunno" Dec shrugged "I just wish things could go back to how they were before I did something so stupid and cheated on her,I do love her,I really do"

"Yeah I know you do" Ant nodded while giving Dec reassuring strokes up and down his back "I really thought you'd moved on from all that"

"So did I" Dec replied "but it seems Clare has other ideas,I don't know what to do"

"Talk to her" Ant suggested.

"We have talked" Dec smiled sadly "hundreds of times,but it always ends up with us arguing"

"Maybe the break from each other when we're in Australia will do you both good then?" Ant replied.

"Yeah,that's what I'm hoping" Dec said "absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "and it will give you both a chance to think things through and assess your relationship and what you want from it or if you should go your separate ways"

"I can't imagine being without her" Dec announced with a tear forming in his eye "we've been together so long"

"Yeah it is hard pal" Ant comforted "but don't worry about it too much just yet eh?we've got a decision to make"

"Decision?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yes Declan" Ant laughed "a decision,about who our next manager will be,or have you forgotten about that little matter already?"

"Oh yeah" Dec grinned "that"

"Well,who appealed to you?" Ant enquired "or do I really need to ask?"

"All of them" Dec sighed "they're obviously all very good at their jobs,I kinda wish Paul hadn't lined so many up,how the hell will we choose between them?"

"Go with our gut instinct I guess" Ant suggested as they both rifled through the CVS with accompanying pictures of everyone they'd met in the last couple of days.

"Choose for the right reasons Declan" Ant stated sternly as he noticed his friend staring at the picture of the blonde woman he'd supposedly only been 'bantering' with.

"What do you mean?" Dec whined offended "obviously I'm gonna do that"

"Nothing" Ant defused the situation immediately before it started to escalate "I just mean,they need to be more than a pretty face"

"I know that" Dec snapped as he examined the womans profile more closely "but she's damn good at her job by the sound of it,and she's Australian"

"Oh that's important in a managerial position is it?" Ant laughed.

"Dunno" Dec grinned "but we're going to Australia,so you never know"

"Ok Decs" Ant smiled "we'll put her...umm...what's her name?"

"Alison Astall" Dec announced confidently.

"Ok" Ant continued "we'll put Alison Astall on our shortlist"

"Good" Dec grinned.

"But lay off the flirting if we decide to go with her ok?" Ant replied in a serious tone "it's unprofessional"

"What flirting?" Dec laughed and held his hands up in a mock surrender gesture.

Needless to say,Dec got his own way and Alison Astall,or Ali as she insisted everyone should call her,was soon to become the boys manager.

Ant and Dec had been informed by ITV that their girlfriends were allowed to accompany them on the trip down under.Even though Dec had originally thought the break from Clare would do them both good,he now thought differently.An all expenses paid stay in a luxury hotel on the other side of the world might be exactly what their relationship needed to get it back on track.

Yes,Dec would be working for a lot of it,but he had been assured that there would still be plenty of personal time to spend with his girlfriend,mainly thanks to the time difference between the UK and Australia.

So It wasn't long before Ant,Dec,Lisa,Clare,Ali and the rest of the crew who would be working on the show were all waiting in the first class lounge of Heathrow airport for their long haul flight to Australia!

Dec glanced around at his friends and work mates all chatting casually amongst themselves and announced in a loud,excited voice.

"Australia here we come!"