Ant and Dec’s legal update to trace missing money over Bansky art as judge makes ruling
TV presenters Ant and Dec have received a ruling from a judge after they launched a legal case regarding alleged wrongdoing in relation to their expensive art collection
Ant and Dec(Image: Getty Images)
A judge has said there is a “good arguable case” that wrongdoing was committed when Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sold their Banksy artworks via a third party.
The Geordie duo heard the fate of their legal action on Wednesday after the sale of their Banksy artworks. They had launched a legal battle as they believed that the consultant, whose identity has not yet been revealed, made “secret commissions” while acting as their agent in the sale, purchase and lending of artworks – including works by Banksy – up to 2021.
Now, Judge Iain Pester has ruled on whether a separate art dealer, Andrew Lilley, and his company Lilley Fine Art, should be ordered to disclose details of transactions with the unidentified person, and whether they should be identified.
The hearing took place remotely and judge Iain Pester has agreed to issue an order to force an art dealer to disclose details of his trades with the unnamed intermediary.
The I’m A Celebrity… presenting duo sold some Banksy pieces, which were part of their joint art collection. The art is said to have been sold a number of years ago through a third party sales rep.
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
The transactions included their £550,000 purchase of a set of six prints in which iconic artist Banksy depicted model Kate Moss as actress Marilyn Monroe. He created the work in the style of Andy Warhol.
It’s claimed the presenters said the seller apparently only received £300,000. They now want to find out what happened to the other £250,000. And the court head how the duo are said to have “similar concerns” about being deprived of “a substantial sum” from selling another 22 items.
Other items include a version of Banksy’s Napalm, which shows the girl – nine-year-old Kim Phuc – from a famous 1972 photo of people fleeing a napalm attack during the Vietnam War. The image is made to look like the youngster is holding hands with Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald.
It’s understood the presenters applied for a ‘Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust order’, in a bid to legally access the purchaser Andrew Lilley’s paperwork. Mr Lilley is not accused of any wrongdoing and is thought to have been prepared to help the presenters.
He previously told BBC News: “I was just purchasing art on what I thought was fair and market value, no idea what was going on in the background.” He added: “This is a matter for the courts now and between A&D [Ant and Dec] and the third party [X].”
While the final sum of money the duo were looking for was not clear, it’s thought to have been a substantial amount to legal remedy”.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
