Their pal Simon Cowell wants them to take over as hosts of his American Idol show.

That would catapult Geordies Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 32, in front of the biggest TV audience in the world – more than 150million viewers in 18 countries.

And it will be music to the pair’s ears after two phone-in scandals in Britain and huge US opposition to their planned American game show Wanna Bet?

A source close to Cowell said: “Simon believes Ant and Dec will become an overnight sensation. He ranks them the best presenters around and he’s determined to help them break into the US.”

The duo’s chance could come in the next two or three months when current show host Ryan Seacrest is expected to take over a top US talk show from veteran host Larry King, 74. “That will leave the coast clear for Ant and Dec,” said our source.

“Simon says they can provide Idol with the boost it needs to recapture viewers and increase the ratings.”

Cowell is furious that average figures for the seventh series of the show have slumped 7% to 29million.

Last month, there was an all-time low of just 23.3million for one of the broadcasts.

“He’s been trying to beg and bully Fox TV bosses to give the Idol formula a massive shake-up,” the insider went on.

“Now the opportunity has fallen into his lap with Ryan’s impending departure and he’ll be able to make good on his promise to help his buddies.”

Meanwhile, Wanna Bet? bosses are working on a new format to pacify anti-gaming campaigners.

Ant and Dec have also felt the fall-out from ITV phone-in scandals and the viewers-vote National Comedy Award being wrongly given to them instead of to Catherine Tate.