TV presenting duo Ant and Dec are taking legal action to investigate alleged “secret and unauthorised profits” in their Banksy art transactions.

The pair claim they paid £550,000 for a set of Banksy artworks, but the seller reportedly received only £300,000, prompting questions about the missing £250,000.

The stars also have concerns about being deprived of “a substantial sum” from the sale of 22 other works, according to court documents.

Ant and Dec have asked the High Court to compel disclosure of relevant information from art dealer Andrew Lilley and his firm, Lilley Fine Art Ltd, and a separate art consultant identified only as X in court proceedings.

The consultant was hired to assist with buying, selling, and loaning artworks for the presenters’ contemporary art collection.

Their lawyer, Harry Martin, told the court they now want to “uncover what really happened in relation to these transactions” and trace any missing funds.

Examples cited include a set of six Banksy prints featuring model Kate Moss depicted as Marilyn Monroe in Andy Warhol’s style.

Another case involves a Banksy version of Napalm, showing nine-year-old Kim Phuc from the iconic Vietnam War photograph, altered to hold hands with Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald.

The artwork reportedly sold for £13,000, but Ant and Dec were told they received only £11,000.

Lilley and his dealership are not accused of wrongdoing but were “mixed up in the wrongdoing” and involved in the money flow, the court heard.

Lilley told BBC News he was unaware of any issues, saying, “I was just purchasing art on what I thought was fair and market value… this is a matter for the courts now.”

Judge Iain Pester is expected to rule on whether to order disclosure and lift the interim anonymity covering X’s identity.