Amazon.co.uk Review
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly's got their big TV break acting in BBC1 children's soap
Byker Grove and subsequently enjoyed a brief career as pop stars--under their character names PJ and Duncan--but it's as plain Ant and Dec, the irrepressible presenters of Saturday morning's kids programme
SM:TV Live, that they are best known. Presiding over the usual mix of guest appearances by the latest boy bands, cartoons and quick sketches, their act is an endearing mix of amateurish slapstick, puns that are so bad they're good and infectious catchphrases, a bit like
Reeves and Mortimer for pre-teens.
This entertaining compilation tape takes its name from the regular sitcom the guys star in with their co-presenter Cat Deely. It's a parody of Friends ("Filmed before a live man and a live woman"), set in the flat the three share in Ant and Dec's native Newcastle. Guests on the show that week drop by, fluff their autocue readings and mostly get into the swing of things: Jerry Springer and Lorraine Kelly send themselves up brilliantly and Mel C seems to be having a good time when she makes an appearance. Only Jay from Jamiroquai looks out of place, as if he'd stumbled in looking for the rehearsals for Later with Jools Holland.
Also on the tape are other sketches from the series, including flashbacks to Ant's nerdy childhood and the introductory link to a Pokémon cartoon, involving Ant, Dec and Cat dressed up as waiters in a Chinese restaurant and a bemused Jamie Oliver which to adult eyes, is almost as surreal as Pokémon itself. One quibble: the Chums opening sequence--which features a rip-off of the Rembrants' title track from Friends--is repeated so many times it feels like padding. --Edward Lawrenson
Synopsis
Features six of the best of the episodes from the SM:TV Live television series. Also features clips from the show including 'Wonkey Donkey', 'Dec Says', 'Pokefight' and 'Pokerap'.
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