Bold opening: Ant and Dec are pushing for answers, claiming they were blindsided by hidden profits in Banksy deals.
Ant and Dec have taken steps in the High Court to uncover what happened to substantial sums from their Banksy artwork transactions, alleging that an intermediary earned “secret and unauthorised profits.” They say they paid £550,000 for a set of Banksy works, yet the seller apparently received only £300,000, leaving £250,000 unaccounted for. They also express concerns about missing a sizeable amount from selling 22 other items, the court was told.
To pursue clarity, the presenters have asked a judge to compel an art dealer to disclose information about the transactions, as well as details from a separate art consultant, referred to in court documents as X, who acted on their behalf. The consultant helped them buy, sell, and loan artworks as their contemporary art collection grew.
Representing Ant and Dec, lawyer Harry Martin said the aim is to reveal what truly happened in these deals and to trace where any missing funds went. He cited a specific transaction: a £550,000 purchase of six prints depicting Kate Moss as Marilyn Monroe in Warhol’s style. He also highlighted a sale that raised questions—Banksy’s Napalm variation, featuring Kim Phuc from the famous 1972 Vietnam War photo, depicted as holding hands with Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald. Martin noted that although the works were sold for £13,000, the presenters were told they had received £11,000, implying a £2,000 discrepancy.
The court is asked to issue a disclosure order targeting art dealer Andrew Lilley and Lilley Fine Art Ltd, who were involved in purchasing pieces for Ant and Dec and selling works to them. Lilley and his dealership are not accused of wrongdoing but are described as being “mixed up in the wrongdoing” and integral to the money flow, the court heard. Lilley has resisted providing information on the transactions on confidentiality grounds but indicated willingness to comply with a court order. He told BBC News that he had been pulled into the dispute and that the issue lies between Ant and Dec and the third party, X.
Judge Iain Pester indicated he would decide on Wednesday whether to grant the disclosure order and whether to lift the interim anonymity protecting X’s identity, highlighting the ongoing tension between transparency and privacy in high-stakes art deals.
