Simon Cowell may have worked with Britain’s beloved TV presenting duo Ant and Dec for many years now, but the pair don’t hang out with the music mogul when they’re busy filming. Geordie stars Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly admitted that they don’t regularly see their boss, who chooses to stick with his fellow panellists Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams while filming Britain’s Got Talent.

The recent series saw musical theatre boy band Collabro win the competition and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Ant and Dec© Photo: Getty Images

Ant and Dec

“We never see the judges,” Ant told the Metro newspaper. “We’re backstage while they swan around eating tangerines and Simon’s Singapore carrots.””The long-time friends – who rose to fame on teen soap Byker Grove – have spent the last 25 years working together. They are due to embark on a Saturday Night Takeaway tour where audiences from all over the United Kingdom will get to take part in their weekend TV show. When asked about rumours of the show results being fixed, Ant admitted it annoys him.

Simon Cowell© Photo: Getty Images

Simon Cowell

“It does get a bit exhausting. These ‘stories’ are a non-story most of the time,” he said.

The hosts also shared that they plan on returning to their Newcastle roots to find talent that could live up to the success enjoyed by themselves and fellow Geordie Cheryl Cole .

Cheryl Cole© Photo: Getty Images

Cheryl Cole, who also hails from Newcastle

“If we can do it – two working class lads from a council estate – then a lot more people can,” Ant went on. “We want to try to facilitate that journey.”

On Wednesday it was announced that Cheryl’s show, The X Factor, is adding a new wildcard category to the programme, meaning a fifth judge will be brought on board. It means the tense deadlock stage of the live episodes could come to an end as Simon, Cheryl, Louis Walsh and Mel B look for next big thing in the country.