Let's Get Ready To Rhumble (again): Ant and Dec resurrect PJ and Duncan to top the iTunes chart 19 years since its first release

 

Matilda Battersby
Monday 25 March 2013 15:45 GMT
Comments
Ant and Dec have made it to number one in the iTunes chart after reviving their double act as PJ and Duncan for their Saturday night show.
Ant and Dec have made it to number one in the iTunes chart after reviving their double act as PJ and Duncan for their Saturday night show.

The only 'rhumble' Ant and Dec have been causing lately might have been in I’m A Celebrity… jungle, but a single they released almost 20 years ago has topped the iTunes charts.

“Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble”, which the double act released when they were known as PJ & Duncan from children’s television drama Byker Grove, only reached number 9 in the charts when it came out in 1994.

But after the child actors-turned-television presenters performed it on their new prime-time show Saturday Night Takeaway nostalgic fans have downloaded the single in droves.

Busting their old moves the duo, whose real names are Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, even donned their trademark attire of oversized shell suits and trainers.

Last night Dec took to Twitter to express his shock at how well the single was doing two decades after it was released: “I know the charts have slowed down a bit but taking 19 yrs to get to No.3 is just plain radix. D #LetsGetReadyToRhumble (sic).”

Speaking in behind-the-scenes footage ahead of Saturday night’s show Dec said it was more difficult for them to keep up with the speed of the music now they are 37. “We have obviously aged a bit we’ve either got a lot older and slower of the track has got quicker,” he said.

Bookies Ladbrokes are expecting Ant and Dec to be odds-on (8/11) for an official UK Number One single this year.

PJ and Duncan released three albums with Psyche scoring their highest chart position at number 5.

Ant and Dec have dashed speculation that they will return to pursue music professionally and are instead planning to take Takeaway to America.

"We want to take Takeaway to the States as we think it's a great show. We think it would be brilliant for the American audience," Ant told The Sunday People.

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

"It could be great. It's the right time to give it a crack. USA Takeaway should work so it's something we think would be really good to do and make happen."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in