Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have shared the first episode of their new podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, following fierce backlash to their previous promotion for the project.
The first advert they released – which featured the presenters pegged to a clothesline on a garden set – was called ‘incredibly damaging’ by Mind, one of the leading charities in the UK offering support to people struggling with their mental health.
The opening was called ‘triggering’ and ‘deeply disappointing’ on social media for evoking what many considered to be suicide-related imagery by showing the star’s feet dangling in the air.
The pair apologised for unintentionally causing offence and removed the advert, before going for a more intimate, DIY-style promo, posting a video on Instagram that gave viewers a tour of their new podcast studio.
Now, the first episode of the podcast has finally been released, with fans commenting that they were ‘in hysterics’ over one moment specifically.
Dec brought out an old keepsake for the special day, a diary from 1994 when he and Ant were touring with their music, and read aloud one of the entries.
Fans loved the moment, with one Spotify listener commenting: ‘Loved Dec’s diary entry! More please!’
Another agreed, writing: ‘In tears over Dec’s diary entry!’
Generally, the podcast episode was received well, with fans calling it ‘just brilliant.’
One listener called it ‘so refreshing,’ saying they loved, ‘to hear two mates just chatting about anything.’
Another wrote: ‘Just brilliant. No better modern-day duo than these two legends. Already hoping for longer episodes and bonus episodes!’
In the episode, the pair chatted about everything from the word ‘boondoggle’ to a fan who wrote in to let them know they’d named their baby after the pair.
Ant wasn’t pleased to learn that the couple had gone for ‘Declan Anthony’ for their child’s name, hilariously arguing that a middle name doesn’t really count.
Notably, the previous logo, which showed the pair dangling from the clothesline, didn’t feature on the screen behind the hosts, which may be an intentional choice given the controversy caused by the previous advert.
The now-removed advert opened on the TV stars’ feet, hanging suspended in mid-air, as Dec’s voice is heard asking: ‘Did you agree to this?’
It then cut to just Ant’s feet as his voice responded: ‘No, I thought this was your idea.’
‘This is not what we meant by “hanging out,”‘ continues Dec, as the camera then reveals him hanging on the line, pegged up by his hoodie, before Ant is also revealed.
Following the backlash, a statement issued to Metro from Ant and Dec said: ‘We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video, and we are sorry if it has upset anyone,’ they said. ‘We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video.’
Mind, which provides vital services and resources and campaigns for improved mental health policies, issued a further statement on the matter.
Rehema Figueiredo, Head of Media at Mind, told Metro: ‘We appreciate that Ant and Dec have apologised and removed this content, but this situation shows that progress is still needed on responsible depictions of suicide.
‘Imagery that suggests or shows suicide or self-harm can be incredibly damaging for those of us who have experienced suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or who have lost someone to suicide.
‘Too often, we see the mark missed when it comes to language or imagery linked to suicide. Mind has guidance for advertisers, producers, and writers on how best to tackle these difficult topics, as our recent research showed that in 2024, public attitudes towards mental health fell below where they were 15 years ago.
‘The importance of accurate, responsible mental health depictions cannot be understated.’
Need support for your mental health?
You can contact mental health charity Mind on 0300 123 3393 or text them on 86463.
Mind can also be reached by email at info@mind.org.uk.
You can find out more information about them on their website
Indeed, Mind’s website features advice on talking about mental health.
This includes being wary of the implications of certain language choices, avoiding references to specific suicide methods, and remembering that everyone’s experiences with mental health are different.
Mind’s comment comes after X Factor star Katie Waissel also made it very clear how she felt about the ad, saying, in part: ‘This needs to be pulled and readdressed immediately,’ added Katie. ‘You can promote a show without normalising imagery that could genuinely distress people.’
Despite a rocky start, it seems Ant and Dec are back on track with their newest audio venture, with fans loving the new show so far.
A version of this article was first published on January 20, 2026.
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