"Ant" Dec yelled out excitedly,as he saw his best friend for the first time in months.

"Hey Decs" Ant grinned,as he scooped Dec off his feet and swung him around like a small child.

"God,I missed ya" Dec smiled tearfully,but in this instance,they were happy tears.

"Me too" Ant replied warmly.

It was the first day of filming for the Britain's Got Talent semi finals.Ant and Dec drove themselves to the venue,instead of being picked up by their driver Joe,like they usually were.

It had been decided that the postponed shows would go ahead,but for the first time ever,they would be pre recorded and broadcast between August and October,although it would be weekly instead of nightly.There would be a virtual audience instead of a live one,but the final would still be televised live.

It was all very odd for the boys,but they did their best to make the most of the situation,at least they would have some kind of show by the end of it.

Once it was wrapped up,they set their sights on the upcoming series of I'm a Celebrity.

It had been agreed that the show would go ahead,but not in Australia. As much as everyone had been praying for that outcome,with all the travel bans that had been put in place,it just hadn't been possible in the end.

"I can't believe we're doing this here" Dec grinned,as he tried to get a feel for the place as they wandered around Gwrych Castle in North Wales,where the programme was to be broadcast from.

"I know" Ant nodded "so weird isn't it?"

"Yeah" Dec replied "I'm gonna miss our month in the sun"

"Me too" Ant agreed "it's bloody freezing here ain't it?not usually how we spend the end of the year"

"I know" Dec frowned "stupid bloody virus"

"Ah,well" Ant smiled "we've just got to make the best of what we've got.So it might not be blue skies,warm sunshine and golden sandy beaches,but it can still be great and the castle is really interesting isn't it?"

"For you probably" Dec replied "no doubt you'll want to know everything about it back to the year dot,but I think it's a bit creepy"

"Declan" Ant laughed "it's not even dark yet,what the hell are you creeped out about?"

"I don't know" Dec shrugged "you don't know what kind of things went on in these places back in the day,might be haunted"

"Shut up,you clown" Ant couldn't hind his amusement "it's not the Tower of London for Gods sake,no one was ever beheaded here"

"Still creepy" Dec mumbled.

"Come on" Ant grinned "let's go and get ready for rehearsals"

The series went incredibly well,reaching brilliant viewing figures,with some fans even preferring the castle setting to the jungle.

Ant also used Decs idea that it was a spooky setting to his advantage,hiding behind walls and bushes in the vast grounds and jumping out at him whenever he got the opportunity,which scared the living daylights out of Dec,the joke never got old for Ant though.

"Your face" Ant laughed,as he startled Dec for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day.

"You're not funny Ant McPartlin" Dec snapped "you're gonna give me a heart attack one day"

"Was very funny actually" Ant grinned "did you think I was a ghost?"

"No,I thought you were a choddler actually" Dec retorted.

"What?" Ant laughed "what's a choddler?"

"It's a cross between a child and a toddler obviously" Dec replied "and that's exactly what you are"

"Gonna tell your mammy that I've been mean to you are you?" Ant teased.

"Might do" Dec grinned "and she'll give you a good telling off for upsetting her baby,now go and get me a green tea to make up for it"

Ant and Dec had actually loved their time in Wales,but they still hoped they could be back in the jungle next year,but only time would tell where that was concerned.

After I'm a Celebrity finished,the boys worked some more on the following years Saturday Night Takeaway and made plans for Christmas.

The new series of Britain's Got Talent had to be postponed for the foreseeable future,but Ant and Dec just took it in their stride,that was just how it had to be right now.

The coronavirus rules that were in place over Christmas in England allowed three households to come together for five days.

Dec was happy about this,but also had some sadness as it meant all of his siblings and their families couldn't be together for the festivities like they usually were.

Anne had made it clear that she wanted Dec,Ali and Isla to come to hers for Christmas as he lived farthest away,whereas all her other kids still lived nearby,so she saw them a lot more regularly.She saw a lot less of Dec throughout the year because of his hectic work schedule.

All Decs siblings decided between them that it should be Pat and her family who also spent Christmas day at Annes.

"So quiet isn't it?" Anne pondered,as they all chatted and drank a glass of champagne,as they always did on Christmas day.

"Yeah,it's weird" Dec nodded "not sure I like it"

"Me neither" Pat chimed in "Christmas is always so bustling and lively with all the kids and everyone here"

"Don't worry" Anne smiled at her adored children "it's just for one year,hopefully everything will be back to normal by this time next year"

"It had better be" Dec frowned.

"It's fine Declan,honestly" Anne assured him "and I have this little one to keep me on my toes"

She looked adoringly at her Grandaughter,who rewarded her with a cheeky giggle.

They all made the most of the most of the situation,it was like no other Christmas they'd ever experienced,but they still had a nice time,sharing the cooking...well not Dec,he entertained Isla instead who was being spoilt rotten with a ridiculous amount of presents.

"What's Ant up to this year?" Anne enquired as they sat down to their Christmas dinner "I had a chat with Christine the other day and she said he's staying in London?"

"Yeah,he is" Dec confirmed "think he wants to spend it with Anne-Marie"

"Couldn't she have come up too?" Pat questioned.

"Well,yeah,she could have" Dec nodded "but her girls will be spending some of Christmas with her and some of it with their dad,I think they're going to their dads tonight for a couple of days,that wouldn't work if she's up here"

"Guess not" Anne nodded.

"Is Christine upset about it?" Dec asked concerned.

"Oh no,not at all" Anne smiled "she'll miss him at this time of year obviously,but after everything he's been through over the last few years,she wants him to always do what makes him happy.He is happy isn't he Decky?"

"Oh,he definitely is Mam" Dec grinned "I think he's the happiest he's ever been in his life,Anne-Marie has been so good for him"

"Glad to hear it" Anne nodded "he deserves it,you give him a big hug from me next time you see him ok?"

"Course I will Mam" Dec promised.

As if Ant knew he was being talked about,Decs phone rang and Ant called out a cheery "happy Christmas"

"Happy Christmas to you too Ant" Dec replied "we're having Christmas dinner right now,can I call you back afterwards"

"Yeah,of course you can" Ant smiled.

"He sounded really happy" Dec observed.

"You can tell that from that brief conversation?" Pat laughed.

"Yeah,I can" Dec grinned "I know him better than I know myself"

"Ah,good for him" Anne chimed in "I'm glad"

Dec immediately called Ant back once they'd finished their dinner and cleared up.

"Happy Christmas...again" Dec laughed down the phone line.

"Happy Christmas to you too Decs" Ant replied cheerfully.

"Put him on speaker phone" Anne requested.

"Mam wants to put you on speaker phone Ant" Dec said "is that ok?"

"Yeah,of course it is" Ant smiled.

"Happy Christmas Anthony" Anne beamed "I hope you're having a lovely day?"

"I'm having the best day ever" Ant laughed.

"Really?" Dec enquired "that's great,what have you been up to?"

Dec could hear Anne-Marie and her girls giggling in the background,with choruses of "tell him" coming from the kids.

"Tell me what?" Dec asked curiously.

"Well" Ant replied "there might have just been a small matter of getting engaged"

"What?" Dec asked surprised "you proposed?"

"He did" Anne-Marie answered "and I said yes"

"Oh my God" Dec beamed "congratulations you two,why didn't you tell me you were gonna propose?"

"Dunno" Ant smiled "just kept it to myself,thought I might have chickened out"

"Congratulations Ant,congratulations Anne-Marie" Anne interrupted.

"Yeah,congratulations you two" Pat joined in "I'm really happy for you"

"Ok,that's enough congratulations for now" Ant laughed,as he heard his Godaughter babbling to herself in the background "did Isla like the tricycle I bought her?"

"She loves it" Dec replied.

"Good" Ant smiled "bet she's bashing into ankles left,right and centre?"

"Well,we haven't brought it up to Newcastle with us" Dec informed him "had enough stuff to squeeze into the car already,but I'm sure she'll be doing that when we get back to London and I'm holding you personally responsible for any bruises I may sustain"

"Ha,I'm sure you will" Ant laughed.

"Ok,Decs" he continued "I'll let you get back to your family,enjoy the rest of your Christmas"

"You too Ant" Dec replied "see you when I get back"

"Bye everyone" Ant called out.

"Bye Ant" they all replied in unison.

Ant and Dec couldn't wait to see each other once they got back to London.

"You're a dark horse,keeping your marriage proposal plans secret" Dec grinned,once the two of them were together again.

"I know" Ant smiled "well,it would have been embarrassing if she'd said no"

"As if she would have said no" Dec replied "you two are made for each other,so when's the wedding?"

"No idea yet" Ant announced "we're in no hurry,we just know we want to spend the rest of our lives together.It won't be a lavish affair,we've both done it before after all,so I think we'll be keeping it low key"

"No Hello magazine deal then?" Dec winked.

"No,not this time" Ant laughed "I don't think so anyway,never say never though"

"What are you doing for new years eve?" Dec asked,suddenly changing the subject.

"Not a lot we can do is there?" Ant frowned "pubs and restaurants are shut,parties aren't allowed,so guess it's just me and Amzie,the girls will be back at their dads"

"Yeah,stupid bloody virus" Dec moaned "would love to go out for a meal or something to see in the new year"

"Don't think about it too much Decs" Ant smiled "it'll hopefully just be for this year"

"Hope so" Dec replied "how about you and Anne-Marie come to us then?"

"Really?" Ant questioned "that would be lovely,I'm sure Amzie would love it too"

"I'll cook" Dec announced.

"Oh God" Ant laughed "please don't,I really don't want to start 2021 off with food poisoning"

"Cheeky bugger" Dec giggled "ok,I'm sure Ali won't mind cooking then"

"No Decs" Ant replied "lets just get a takeaway shall we?at least they're still open and it's not fair to expect Ali to do all the running around after everyone,she deserves to relax and enjoy the night too"

"Ok,ok" Dec laughed "stop ya moaning,a takeaway it is then"

Ant,Dec,Ali and Anne-Marie spent new years eve together,happily saying goodbye to the rubbish year that 2020 had turned out to be.

It was a perfect evening and they all agreed that they now weren't particularly bothered about the pubs and restaurants being closed anymore.It was the people they celebrated with that made it special,not the place and as his daughter slept soundly upstairs,Dec thought about how there was no one else on earth that he would rather be with than the people there in his home right now.

It had been a difficult,surprising year,but with the vaccination programme starting to be rolled out across the UK,things had to get better going into the new year.

That was one thing that Dec was completely sure of!