Sunderland 'Til I Die producers Fulwell 73 working on return of Byker Grove with Ant and Dec

An 'unlikely Mackem-Geordie dream team' is behind the return of a much-loved teen drama series set in the North East.

TV duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced this morning they are bringing drama Byker Grove for a new series 17 years after it was last broadcast.

The show, which launched the careers of the showbiz legends, was set around a youth centre in Newcastle between 1989 and 2006, and was a hit among young audiences, remaining a cultural reference point for the North East today.

But despite it being dominated by OTT Geordie accents and Tyneside culture, Ant and Dec have chosen to work with the Fulwell 73, the producers of Sunderland 'Til I Die, on the project.

The new series, currently in development with Fulwell 73 and Mitre Studios, will return under the name Byker and be filmed and produced in and around the North East.

It will see a new generation of teenagers navigating the challenges faced by young adults today, touching on youth and adult storylines, and set against a backdrop of Newcastle and the North East.

McPartlin and Donnelly, who played fun-loving duo PJ and Duncan in the original series, will serve as executive producers and creative consultants of the reboot.

“We owe such a lot to Byker Grove and the North East so we can’t wait to start working with Fulwell 73 and the team to bring this iconic series back to life,” McPartlin said.

“Already talking characters and storylines has us all buzzing at the possibilities ahead.

“The original series was the starting point for a lot of North East talent so we’re excited to see what the new team will bring.”

Donnelly added: “Byker Grove will always be very special to us as the show which gave us our break, so we are beyond excited to be working together with Fulwell 73 on bringing it back.

“We are looking forward to bringing this fresh incarnation to a whole new generation as well as those who remember it as fondly as we do.

“As proud Geordies, we’re looking forward to help shine a spotlight on the North East and the talent the region has to offer both in front of the camera and behind it.”

Fulwell 73’s Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood will also serve as executive producers alongside McPartlin and Donnelly, who recently announced they will take a break from ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway after the 2024 series.

It comes as Fulwell 73 works on plans to open a major new film studios on the banks of the River Wear.

Pearlman, Fulwell 73 co-founder and managing partner, said: “Working in collaboration is vital to the North East’s success.

“Partnering through our Sunderland office with Ant and Dec’s company Mitre Studios, an unlikely and yet dream team of Mackems and Geordies, to bring back a series starring and made by local people is something we’re incredibly proud of at Fulwell 73.

“We can’t wait to share Byker with new and old fans alike, showcasing the very best of our region to the world as part of our long-term commitment to a sustainable industry in the North East.”

Behind the scenes, Byker will also aim to be a returnable series providing sustainable training both in front and behind the camera, including a North East focused writers’ room and work placements.

Fulwell 73 and Mitre Studios will film across Newcastle and Sunderland as part of both companies’ commitment to their home region and North East-based production offices.

McPartlin and Donnelly will also integrate their Prince’s Trust Making It In Media course into the production to help give experience to young people in the North East.

The show, which became a staple of British television throughout the Nineties and Noughties, also helped launch the careers of Donna Air and Jill Halfpenny.

It launched on November 8 1989 on the BBC and came to an end in 2006 after 18 series. It has not yet been announced where or when the reboot will air.

Emmy-award winning entertainment company, Fulwell 73, has previously produced shows including Friends: The Reunion, The Kardashians and Gavin And Stacey: Christmas Special.

The company was set up in 2005 by influential producer Ben Winston, Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner, with actor and TV host James Corden joining as a fifth partner in 2017.