Ant & Dec's '90s classic TV show Byker Grove is making a comeback – with all the episodes becoming available to watch on ITVX and STV.

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The iconic kids’ drama, which followed the ups and downs of members of a Newcastle youth club, ran on BBC One from 1989 to 2006, becoming must-watch TV for '90s kids everywhere.

Byker Grove became defined and praised for its direct approach to tough storylines for a younger audience, with stories including drug addiction, abuse and homophobia included at a time when such discussions were often avoided.

Byker Grove notably launched the careers of Ant & Dec, who appeared on the series as best friends PJ and Duncan from 1989 to 1992, before launching a music career as their alter-egos.

The cast of Byker Grove, around two dozen people, stand in front of an old cobbled building with that has leafy tree vines going up one side of the wall, and a large fir tree. The group are all dressed in casual day-to-day clothes and coats – some are jean jackets and some are leather jackets. Ant McPartlin, who looks to be in his mid-twenties, stands in the front and centre of the group, in baggy dark blue jeans, a dark grey denim jacket covering a t-shirt. His hair is in spikes. Declan Donnelly stands two to the right of him with his arms crossed, with his brown hair floppy and in loose curtains framing his face in baggy black leather jacket, loose dark brown trousers and Doc Marten combat-style boots. His foot is up on an elevated stone in the foreground. The collective behind them are gathered closely and looking at the camera with serious faces.
Byker Grove cast, pictured on the 10th anniversary in 1998. NCJ Archive/NCJ Archive/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

During their time at on Byker Grove, the pair became central to multiple storylines – with Ant’s character PJ going blind after failing to follow rules during a game of paintball and taking off his goggles, leading him to get shot in the eye by the two girls who had discovered he had been two-timing them.

The pair would later ditch PJ and Duncan to start their now legendary presenting career together.

ITVX and STV have now partnered with Ant & Dec’s production company Mitre Studios, which owns the rights to Byker Grove, to relaunch the series and allow a new generation to tune into the drama for themselves.

Ant and Dec, both in their late teens, are pictured at a table, leaning into each other with their mouths open in wide grins and their hands wide in 'jazz hands style' up to their faces. Dec, pictured on the left, is slightly under Ant and has his hair styled in floppy curtains while wearing a white, blue and red gingham shirt. Ant, who's squinting, wears a denim blue baseball cap and a white jumper with a high neckline. A denim shirt underneath the jumper is visible at the wrists.
Ant and Dec as PJ and Duncan, pictured in 1993. NCJ Archive/NCJ Archive/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

The series will launch on the streaming services on ITVX later this year, and is available on STV Player now.

Richard Williams, STV’s Managing Director, Audience: Video & Technology, said: “Just when you thought the '90s revival might have been slowing down, we’ve only gone and brought back one of the seminal TV shows of the decade.

“Byker Grove was an integral part of so many British childhoods and we’re delighted that those original viewers – now of a slightly more mature vintage – can relive all the nostalgic action on STV Player. And if any Gen Z viewers want to find out who really started the baggy trousers trend, look no further than Byker Grove!”

Byker Grove is available to watch now on STV and will arrive later this year on ITVX.

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.

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