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Meet Andy Milligan - The Man Behind Ant And Dec's Jokes

Meet Andy Milligan - The Man Behind Ant And Dec's Jokes

He's been the comedy duo's only full-time gag writer for the past 12 years

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

The name Andy Milligan may not mean a lot to most people, but if you're a fan of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here the chances are you will have laughed along to any number of his one-liners.

That's because he is man behind pretty much every joke that has ever left the lips of everyone's favourite comedy duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

I know, right, who knew the two cheeky chappies weren't totally responsible for all of their hilarious gags?

Well, it appears they have a little bit of help from professional comedy writer Andy, who is also the co-creator of BBC sitcom Man Like Mobeen.

The gang have been writing jokes together for 12 years.
Twitter/ItsAMilligan

Fellow Geordie Andy is the duo's full-time comic writing assistant and works late into the night in Australia, preparing the jokes for the following day's show, according to the Mirror.

But before any of the material can be aired the trio must refine and perfect, starting at around 4.30am with a meeting in which the gags are learned, before a super speedy rehearsal.

So if you tuned into the first episode of this year's I'm a Celeb, you will have heard this gem.

At the top of the show, Ant and Dec begin by introducing the campmates, taking the opportunity to have a little fun at their expense.

As they make their way through the group, Dec says: "We've got Kate Garraway, the Good Morning Britain presenter who's preparing to take on the most harrowing ordeal of her entire life."

To which Ant replies: "But before she goes back to work with Piers Morgan, she's got three weeks in the jungle."

Dec then comes in with: "And we've got reality TV royalty, Caitlyn Jenner is on the show. Most people come into the jungle to lose a few pounds..."

And as quick as you like, Ant jumps in to finish the joke with: "But she's going to be gaining 500,000 of them, according to the papers."

Top drawer, lads.

But when Bafta winner Andy isn't helping his two pals out down under, he's working with them back home and is responsible for some of their best work - such as Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent.

Andy Milligan is the man behind Ant and Dec's cracking one-liners.
PA

And it's not just the boys from Newcastle who have benefited from the writer's quick wit either. Plenty of other household names have had help from Andy, including John Bishop, Rob Brydon and James Cordon.

He's even worked as a writer on Great British Bake Off, Love Island and The Last Leg.

Basically, he is everywhere.

But with Ant now having returned to I'm a Celeb after taking a break from the show last year, the gang are back together and we're sure they'll be many more jokes to come over the next few weeks.

Speaking to the Mirror about Andy's role with Ant and Dec, a source said it was very much a collaboration, with the three of them working together to come up with the jokes.

They told the publication: "It might be Ant and Dec on screen, but off it they regularly work as a trio and it is Ant and Dec and Andy."

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Ant and Dec

Topics: TV and Film, Funny, Interesting, Comedy, I'm A Celebrity..., Twitter, ITV, Ant and Dec