Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were photographed rehearsing for their ‘last episode’ of Saturday Night Takeaway on Friday.
The Geordie duo, both 48, will say goodbye to the iconic show after 22 years on air as the presenters take a “breather” but have given a cryptic hint about the show’s future.
And they’re leaving nothing to chance as they were seen preparing for an action-packed final episode at London’s TV Centre.
With less than 24 hours to go until their ‘biggest show ever’, Ant and Dec were joined by Andi Peters, who at one point was covered in feathers.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s installment, which will feature celebrity guests including Simon Cowell, Davina McCall and Craig David, the couple teased they could return.
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were photographed rehearsing for their ‘last episode’ of Saturday Night Takeaway on Friday.
The Geordie duo are preparing to say goodbye to the iconic show after 22 years on air as the presenters take a “break” but have dropped a cryptic hint about the show’s future.
Ant explained: “I don’t want to give too much away, but it will be a big goodbye…
‘For now!’ Dec intervened.
Ant continued: ‘It really is the biggest Saturday night takeaway we’ve ever done! We’re going to take over all of TV Center, it’s going to be chaotic, unpredictable and hopefully very entertaining… anything could happen!’
Dec added: “Everything is oversized for this very special live farewell show – we have 3 stages, our main studio stage and two new purpose-built stages outside the TV Centre.”
‘There have been mixed emotions all week as we plan and rehearse this final show. Saturday Night Takeaway is very special to us. “We’ve made this final two-hour show a true celebration of all things SNT over the years.”
“I can’t believe it will be the last show, we’ve really enjoyed making this final series. I know it’s going to be an emotional night, but we plan to give Takeaway viewers a party to end all parties!” Ant said.
Ant and Dec are set to surprise Saturday Night Takeaway fans with an action-packed final episode.
However, the presenting duo admitted leaving the iconic show was not an easy decision, as they spoke about their emotional farewell during an appearance on This Morning on Friday.
And they’re leaving nothing to chance as they were seen preparing for an action-packed final episode at London’s TV Centre.
With less than 24 hours until the ‘biggest show of all time’, Ant and Dec were joined by Andi Peters, who at one point was covered in feathers.
Ant explained: “I don’t want to give too much away, but it will be a big goodbye… ‘For now!’ Dec intervened.
Chatting to hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about the final show, the pair explained that it seemed “the right time” to leave the iconic show “on a high”.
Praising its 22 years of broadcasting, Dec said: “When we made the decision to call it quits – and we did it because 20 series seemed like a good time to do it – we told our management first.”
“We said, ‘We want to rest, but we reserve the right to change our minds several times between now and then,’ and we did. But I think in our hearts we know it’s the right thing to do.”
Ant agreed, repeating: “For the show and for us personally, it’s the right thing at the right time.”
As they teased a series of highly anticipated surprises for the big finale, the Geordie duo admitted they are unsure if the show will ever appear on screen again.
But there’s no reason to despair as Ant and Dec made sure to put together a legendary and unforgettable outing for the upcoming two-hour episode.
It will feature celebrity guests such as Simon Cowell, Davina McCall, Rylan Clark, Oti Mabuse, Amanda Holden, Dermot O’Leary, Craig David and Alison Hammond on its billing.
But there’s more, as pop group Girls Aloud will also appear as guest hosts, as well as the huge Singalong with S-Club, Tony Hadley and Kaiser Chiefs and favorite show Ring my Bell.
Appreciating his memories on the show, Ant said: “You want to make sure you include enough new and fun things so it’s not just a look back.”
“We don’t know when the show will be back and we don’t know if we’ll ever do Ant versus Dec again, so whoever wins is the ultimate!” Dec added.
The presenting pair also admitted there will be “tears” once the show is over, and that it has been “pretty tough” in the final few days before broadcast.
The presenting duo admitted leaving the iconic show was not an easy decision as they spoke about their emotional farewell during an appearance on This Morning on Friday.
Dec said: “We said: ‘We want to rest, but we reserve the right to change our mind several times between now and then.’ And we have. But I think in our hearts we know it’s the right thing to do.
It will feature celebrity guests Simon Cowell, Davina McCall, Rylan Clark, Oti Mabuse, Amanda Holden, Dermot O’Leary, Craig David and Alison Hammond on its bill (presenters Alison and Dermot pictured)
Ant said: ‘I’m sure there will be tears. It’s been pretty difficult this week knowing it’s the last week of rehearsals, script meetings and all that.
‘We have kept this a secret until now. Until we got here and saw the scenario, we were like, oh, it looks pretty final.”
Andi Peters will host her final SNT competition, while Jordan North, Josie Gibson and Scarlett Moffatt will bring joy to the unsuspecting public.
Last year, Ant and Dec announced they would be leaving Saturday Night Takeaway ahead of series 20, surprising their fans across the country.
The couple will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV, hosting hit shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win, all of which air on ITV1 and ITVX.
Ant said at the time: “We love doing Saturday Night Takeaway, but hitting the 20 series milestone seemed like the perfect time to pause for a moment and catch our breath.”
Dec added: ‘We still have a momentous 20th series to look forward to first, so we’ll do our best to go out (for now) with a bang in 2024!’
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, produced by Lifted Entertainment (part of ITV Studios) and Miter Studios, will return next year for its 20th series.
The series has spawned numerous iconic segments, including Win the Ads, Undercover, Get Out Of Me Ear, The End of Show Show and The Happiest Minute of the Week.
The latest series launched in February to the biggest overnight audience of the year on ITV1, attracting 6.4 million viewers and the biggest entertainment audience on any channel.
The show’s combination of live fun, high energy and good feeling has seen the format win multiple BAFTAs and National Television Awards since its launch in 2002.
Girls Aloud will serve as guest stars during the episode leading up to their upcoming tour.
The show’s combination of live fun, high energy and good feeling has seen the format win multiple BAFTA and National Television Awards since its launch in 2002.
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director of Media and Entertainment, said: “When you think of Saturday night television, you think of Saturday Night Takeaway.”
‘Over 20 series, the show has become a cultural phenomenon, and while we eagerly anticipate what Ant & Dec have up their sleeves for the 2024 series, we completely understand their desire to pause, take stock and think about what the next incarnation will be. what the program would look like.”
Ant and Dec, who initially found fame in Byker Grove in the late 1980s, first fronted the show from 2002 to 2009 and then again from 2013, when it returned.
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway airs Saturday at 7pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX.