Ant and Dec stepping back from Saturday Night Takeaway

Ant and Dec are taking a break from Saturday Night Takeaway. The pair have released a video in which they announced their decision to give it a rest for a while.

The Geordie presenting duo will make the 20 series of the weekend evening light entertainment programme, but have now decided to step away from things after that and take a break.

47-year-old Ant McPartlin and his long-time co-host and friend Declan Donnelly are quoted as having said: “We love making Saturday Night Takeaway, but reaching the milestone of 20 series seemed like the perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath.

“We still have a momentous 20th series to look forward to first so we will do our best to go out (for now) with a bang in 2024!”

Instagram/Ant and Dec

In an Instagram video on their joint account, the pair explained the situation to their fans, with Ant starting out: “Hi everyone,

“You see, in 2024 it will be our 20^th series of Saturday Night Takeaway, and we’ve got some very special look-backs planned, as well as some very exciting new items.”

Dec then joined in: “And we’ve also decided that our 20^th series next year will be our last one for a little while.

“The show takes up such a lot of our year, we just feel we need a little bit of a breather and that the show is going to take a bit of a rest.”

McPartlin chimed back in: “But before that though, we’ve got the 20^th series to plan, haven’t we?”

Dec said: “Yes, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Ant responded: “Next year, 2024, series 20!”

“See you then, let’s get to work,” the pair concluded.

Kevin Lygo, ITV Managing Director, 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 take a pause, take stock, and think about what the next incarnation of the show might look like.”

The most recent series of Saturday Night Takeaway started back in February, and brought ITV1's biggest overnight audience of the year.

Instagram/Ant and Dec

6.4 million viewers tuned in to see what the pair had planned, making it the biggest entertainment audience on any channel.

The series has become popular with fans for segments and features such as 'Win the Ads', 'Get Me Out of Ear', 'The End of Show Show', and the 'Happiest Minute of the Week'.

It remains to be seen whether ITV will choose to continue the show without the iconic presenting duo, or if they will attempt to bring someone else in to helm the show.

We'll have to wait and see.