Back in 2022, Geordie legend Ant McPartlin had a run-in with a coconut while recording that year’s season of BGT auditions.
He received some “extreme” medical care for the accident, and cautioned those watching at home that he “nearly broke” his knuckle.
While recording one of their backstage segments during a Britain’s Got Talent audition that involved a large quantity of coconuts, presenters Ant and Dec found themselves tending to a wound.
Well, Ant did.
Ant McPartlin warns kids not to punch coconuts after backstage BGT stunt goes awry
Presenter Ant thought he’d have a go at breaking up a coconut using only his fist. It didn’t go to plan, leading him to caution those watching not to punch coconuts.
“It really hurts,” he said. “I think I nearly broke my knuckle.”
He then saw fit to try using his head. But foreheads are not made for smashing coconuts, and Ant found out the hard way.
After more attempts than were sensible, Declan Donnelly – Ant’s other half – pointed out that his head was bleeding. And Ant laughed to someone off-camera: “How irresponsible are you?”
Medics rushed to the scene and wrapped his head in a thick wad of bandage.
One informed him that he ought to change his dressing daily, and keep it on for three weeks, prompting the embattled presenter to quip that the medical care he was receiving was “very extreme for a little tap on the forehead”.
Undeterred, Ant was soon back on stage crushing coconuts.
Ant and Dec once had an ‘ugly’ row that almost ended their TV career
Over far more than coconuts…
Once upon a time, Ant and Dec were at loggerheads. Fortunately, they haven’t had an altercation like it since, but at the time, it threatened to derail their joint TV presenting career.
In 1995, Geordie duo Ant and Dec were in Spain, preparing for a stint on GMTV’s Fun In The Sun with Anthea Turner, which broadcast live from Torremolinos.
A trip to the pub left the boys pleasantly soused, and around 10pm Dec decided it was bedtime. But Ant wasn’t ready for bed. He asked his co-presenter “what the hell” he was retiring for, and the disagreement over when was bedtime led to a shouting match, jeering and a punch in the chest.
That was the end of it. Besides that, coconuts, and a period of intense difficulty for Ant between 2018 and 2019, the pair have had a phenomenal run at the helm of the British reality TV industry.
BGT is on Saturday nights on ITV1.
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