Ant and Dec will step back from BAFTA-winning Saturday Night Takeaway in 2024
The ITV stars said they will be taking 'a breather' from the show after 20 years
Ant and Dec will be taking a break from their long-running variety show Saturday Night Takeaway after 20 years.
The ITV stars said they were taking “a breather” from the show, which “takes up such a lot of our year”.
The pair have previously paused their involvement in the BAFTA-award winning show in 2009, returning in 2013, and have today announced they will step back again after 2024 as it embarks on its 20th series.
The duo will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV, hosting hit shows including I’m A Celebrity, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win, it has been confirmed.
“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,” McPartlin said.
Donnelly said: “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.”
The pair also promised “some very special look-backs” and “exciting new items” for the 20th series.
“Next year in 2024 it will be the 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway and we’ve got some very special look-backs planned, as well as some very exciting new items,” McPartlin said, in a short video posted to Instagram.
Donnelly added: “And we’ve also decided that our 20th series next year will be a last one for a little while.
“The show takes off 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 little bit of a rest.”
“But before that thought, we’ve got the 20 series to plan!” McPartlin said.
The most recent series of Saturday Night Takeaway launched in February, with ITV1’s biggest overnight audience of the year, attracting 6.4 million viewers.
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.”
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