TV duo Ant and Dec have signed a multi-million pound deal to stay at ITV for the next two years.

Reports that the pair's contract would be worth a stunning £40 million, the biggest in history, were denied by a source today.

But their deal is likely to match or even eclipse the likes of BBC star Jonathan Ross - £18 million over three years - and Simon Cowell, who was paid £20 million over three years by ITV.

The pair, whose new contract runs until the end of 2009, joined ITV in 1998 as presenters and co-creators of entertainment show SM:TV Live and music show CD:UK.

The stars, who have been signed exclusively to ITV since 2000, have been the face of hit shows like I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon and Pop Idol.

They launched Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway in 2002 and their latest show, Pokerface, attracted 7.5 million viewers at the finale of the second series.

The deal still allows the cheeky duo, who have just filmed a pilot for new game show Wanna Bet for US channel ABC, to work in the US.

The presenters, both 31, who shot to fame at the age of 13 in Byker Grove, will next be seen on ITV in June, hosting Simon Cowell's new show Britain's Got Talent.

Anthony McPartlin said: "We have already enjoyed a long and successful relationship with ITV and are more than delighted to be extending it."

Declan Donnelly added: "ITV has been our home for nearly a decade and we are looking forward to continuing to make and host the shows we love as well as developing new, fresh and exciting ideas for the future."

ITV's Director of Television Simon Shaps said: "Ant and Dec have become synonymous with ITV and they have played a huge role in making the channel the home of entertainment programming in the UK.

"I'm thrilled that we are able to extend our deal with Ant and Dec and take our exclusive partnership into its ninth year."

ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy Paul Jackson added: "Ant and Dec are undoubtedly the nation's favourite TV presenters with an incredible amount of talent and appeal for ITV's viewers.

"To be able to continue working with them exclusively is an absolute delight and we're looking forward to building upon existing formats and developing some exciting new ones over the next two years."

The deal is a coup for new ITV boss Michael Grade, the former BBC chairman, after the broadcaster also won the rights to show the FA Cup and England home football matches.

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