LIKELY Lads Ant and Dec came back home yesterday to film a tribute to their comedy heroes.

The Geordie duo are to recreate a classic episode of the 1960s comedy The Likely Lads, playing the lead roles of Terry and Bob, in a one-off show, which will be screened next month.

The episode, No Hiding Place, sees Terry and Bob trying to avoid learning the result of an England game.

Ant and Dec arrived in Newcastle for the first day of filming at a tower block on a council estate at Shieldfield.

After flicking through the morning papers, the pair got to work with a crew of about 50 for the first shots.

Spokeswoman Fiona Williams said the show is a tribute to the original Likely Lads, James Bolam and Rodney Bewes.

She said: "The half-hour special will be a remake of the original episode of the show, which they are great fans of. They have always been fans of the show and are really excited about it."

The duo - real names Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - are expected to be filming at Pandon Court flats for two days, finishing with a day in the studio at the end of the week.

Rodney Bewes will make a brief cameo appearance in the remake.

As filming progressed, girls on their way to a local comprehensive school spotted the stars and rushed over for autographs.

Ant and Dec are also rumoured to be lined up to star in a TV remake of the 1960s movie the Odd Couple, which starred Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

The former stars of Byker Grove have had the best possible preparation for the roles. They shared a flat in Fulham when they first moved to London from Newcastle, in 1995.

Dec recalls: "We had a great laugh living and working together. But there were times when Ant would do a Tracy Barlow from Coronation Street and say: 'I'm going to me bedroom to play me tapes'."

Ant said: "We're best pals. There is no point living on the other side of the country from each other.