Ant and Dec had drunken fight hours before live breakfast TV appearance

Presenters had punch-up in 1995

Ant and Dec pictured in November 2019 (PA)

Ant and Dec have revealed that they had a drunken punch-up just hours before appearing live on breakfast television.

The presenting duo, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, wrote about the experience in their new autobiography, Once Upon a Tyne: Our story celebrating 30 years together on telly.

Recalling the incident, which took place in 1995, McPartlin wrote that they had gone to the pub the evening before a GMTV appearance.

After a night of drinking, Donnelly wanted to go home at 10pm but as he walked away, McPartlin remembers saying: “What the hell are you going to bed for?”

Donnelly continued to “stumble towards the lift”, causing McPartlin to “lose it”.

Ant McPartlin (r) and Declan Donnelly (l) (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

McPartlin recalled saying to Donnelly: “Don’t you dare walk away from me when I’m talking to you.”

Donnelly added that his long-time collaborator “was really pushing my buttons” and he put his fingers in his ear and pretended not to hear him.

McPartlin said this made his “blood boil” so he “punched Dec in the chest”. Donnelly tried to hit McPartlin back but caught the peak of his cap, instead.

The tussle only came to and end when their tour manager intervened.

Ant and Dec will soon return to ITV screens with the new season of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Unlike previous seasons of the show, which have been filmed in the Australian outback, 2020’s episodes will be filmed in a castle in Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Once Upon a Tyne is out now.