Britain’s Got Talent hosts Ant and Dec (Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly) are reportedly taking legal action after being ripped off by a middleman in the sale of artwork by famed street artist Banksy.
Ant and Dec Take Legal Action Over Art Sale
The Sun reports that Ant and Dec were allegedly ripped off for a large sum of money when they sold works of art by Banksy. According to legal documents, the TV personalities believe that money from the sale is missing.
The pair has reportedly launched a High Court case in the UK. Andrew Lilley, who is named as a defendant in the case but is not accused of wrongdoing, apparently purchased the Banksy works from the duo several years ago, paying market value through an unnamed sales rep.
This sales rep is accused of hiding the works’ sale price in order to take a bigger cut. Ant and Dec’s lawyers are seeking authorization to access Lilley’s paperwork in order to launch another lawsuit against the third party. They are reportedly willing to pay Lilley’s costs to help them.
Although Lilly is apparently willing to assist, they have to wait for a High Court ruling to avoid breaking any data protection laws. A filing by Ant and Dec’s lawyer reads, “There is a real prospect that the information sought will lead to the location or preservation of the assets in question.”
SEE ALSO: ANT AND DEC HIT THE GOLDEN BUZZER ON FRENCH BEATBOXER AFTER PHENOMENAL AUDITION
The Duo Is Hosting a New Podcast
Ant and Dec are gearing up to host a new podcast called Hanging Out. It will premiere next Thursday, January 22, with episodes available wherever you listen to podcasts. Fans can also watch new episodes on the Belta Box YouTube channel.
The duo will also be returning as the hosts of Britain’s Got Talent for Series 19 later this year. The show wrapped up the filming of auditions in October of last year, although a premiere date has not yet been announced.
This year, judge Bruno Tonioli will be replaced on the panel by KSI, who previously appeared on the show as a guest judge. He’ll be joined by returning judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon.
