Yahoo News 'Saturday Night Takeaway' hosts Ant and Dec: Coronavirus means we might not do another episode
The coronavirus means telly favourite Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’s last instalment could be this weekend.
Presenters Ant and Dec revealed they “might not be able to do another one” while appearing on This Morning yesterday (20 March).
The show has already had to make changes due to the government’s recommended practices of social distancing, with this weekend’s episode going ahead without a live studio audience.
Ant, full name Anthony McPartlin, told This Morning hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: "We wanted to do the show to put a smile on people's faces, we might not be able to do another one.
Read more: Ant and Dec ask fans for help as 'Saturday Night Takeaway' goes ahead without audience
"We don't know, we just want to get on air, have some fun, and hope that you'll all enjoy it too."
Co-presenter Declan Donnelly added: "For as long as we are allowed, and as long as we are able, we will try to bring you a show."
Of the upcoming episode, he continued added: "It will be strange, and different — the studio will be how it is now, this is how it is going to look tomorrow night on the show.
"We are still going to run down the stairs, these seats will all be empty but we've got loads of stuff in the show tomorrow night.
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"We are just going to see how it goes and try and bring some smiles to some faces."
The show was left in the balance after last week’s episode, when saying farewell at the end saying “We will hopefully be back here next Saturday night at 7pm. Have a great week - stay safe, everybody."
And while the show definitely will be back, it was confirmed earlier in the week it will be without the live studio audience - usually a big element of the show’s relaxed, irreverent style.
A statement from ITV read: “Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead this weekend without a studio audience.
“Our priority is safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved. The show will be made with a reduced production crew and in accordance with the latest guidance from Public Health England.
“The team are looking forward to bringing our viewers a brilliant show on Saturday evening.”
In response, the pair used their joint Twitter account to ask fans to get involved from home.
They posted: “#SaturdayNightTakeaway NEEDS YOU!
“We have no studio audience this week so we want YOU, the audience at home, to be the stars of the #EndOfTheShowShow…”
The duo asked fans to “film (in landscape) yourself, your family, your pets, whatever, dancing along to @ollymurs ‘Dance With Me Tonight’ at home, for at least 1 minute.”
“And you could end up as part of a brilliant EOTSS! See you (and yourself!) on the telly!!” they added.
Tune in to Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway tonight (21 March) from 7pm on ITV.
