TV presenters Ant and Dec showcase Northern Ireland on ITV
TV cheeky chappies, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, have been highlighting the Sperrins, Castle Ward and our spectacular scenery on ITV. A two-part documentary, called Ant and Dec’s DNA Journey, aired earlier this week and showed the pair’s investigation into their ancestors – which took them to Desertmartin and Slieve Gallion in the Sperrins, as well as to Castle Ward in Co Down.
The pair also travelled to Drumkeeran in Co Leitrim and to Fermoy in Co Cork – meeting relatives and discovering old family connections via DNA matching.
Tourism Ireland worked with ITV, to bring Ant and Dec and the ITV crew here.
“We were delighted to support Ant and Dec’s visit to Northern Ireland,” said Julie Wakley, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Britain. “The two episodes were seen by viewers across Britain – highlighting our beautiful landscape and encouraging GB travellers to put Northern Ireland on their holiday ‘wish-list’.
“Television and film are recognised as strong influencers for prospective holidaymakers and Tourism Ireland regularly works with TV and production companies in Britain, and elsewhere around the world, to facilitate the making of travel and lifestyle programmes.
GB continues to be a very important market for tourism to Northern Ireland, delivering around 64% of all overseas visitors and around 56% of all overseas tourism revenue. In 2018, we welcomed 1.425 million GB visitors to Northern Ireland. Revenue from GB holidaymakers to Northern Ireland is up +85% since 2012.
