NORTH-EAST favourites Ant and Dec have been named as the celebrities that most local residents would pick to raise the profile of Newcastle Airport.

The pair are best known for shows such as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and Britain's Got Talent.

Now the twosome can add another line to their respective resumes after a poll, commissioned by travel extras specialist HolidayExtras.com, suggested that the presenters would fit the bill.

Inspired by reports that Birmingham Airport could potentially be renamed Shakespeare’s Airport in the United States to appeal to a greater audience, the survey revealed that one in five (23 per cent) of Newcastle’s residents were in favour of renaming the airport in honour of the Ant and Dec.

Best-selling novelist Catherine Cookson was the second choice, with 19 per cent of the overall votes and footballer Alan Shearer came in a close third with 18 per cent.

Ant and Dec originally met after appearing on-air together in the children's TV series, Byker Grove.

Their first pop hit, Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble, soon followed and they went on to become the undisputed kings of Saturday night TV, with the possible exception of Bruce Forsyth.

Clarke Cowell, communications director at Holiday Extras, said: “While we’re not aware of any plans to change the name at Newcastle Airport, popular British figures such as Robin Hood and John Lennon have been used in the past to highlight other UK airports to potential international visitors, so we decided to find out who the people of Newcastle would most like to fly the flag for their local airport.

”We’re not surprised that Ant and Dec came out as number one in our poll.

"Having achieved so much in their careers, and with their colourful personalities, the duo is recognised and celebrated throughout the region and beyond.

"For years we’ve welcomed them into our homes through some of the nation’s most popular shows. It seems only fitting that they would be the first choice to welcome Newcastle’s visitors.”