Ant and Dec, the beloved British TV personalities, have taken legal action against an unnamed consultant over alleged 'secret profits' in their dealings with Banksy. The consultant, referred to as X in court, was enlisted to help them buy, sell, and loan artworks as they built up a contemporary art collection. Now, they want to uncover the truth behind these transactions and the whereabouts of any missing funds. Harry Martin, representing Ant and Dec, revealed that the consultant brokered deals including the £550,000 purchase of a set of six prints featuring Kate Moss as Marilyn Monroe in the style of Andy Warhol. He also provided an example of a work sold by the pair, a version of Banksy's Napalm, which depicts a young girl holding hands with Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald. Martin claimed that X sold this piece for £13,000 but told the presenters they had received only £11,000, resulting in a discrepancy of £2,000. The pair are seeking a disclosure order to obtain relevant information from art dealer Andrew Lilley and his firm, Lilley Fine Art Ltd. While Lilley and his dealership are not accused of any wrongdoing, they were 'mixed up in the wrongdoing' and 'involved in the flow of money', according to Martin. Lilley has so far refused to provide information, citing confidentiality, but has indicated he will comply with any court order. The case is now in the hands of Judge Iain Pester, who will rule on Wednesday whether to order the disclosure and lift the interim anonymity order covering X's identity. This development raises questions about the transparency and ethics of art dealings, and invites discussion on the role of intermediaries in the art world. Will the truth behind these transactions be revealed? And what does this mean for the future of art collecting and dealing?
