Why have Ant and Dec quit Saturday Night Takeaway? When will the ITV show return?

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly shocked fans across the country when they sensationally quit Saturday Night Takeaway on Thursday.

The Geordie presenters, both 47, announced that the multi-BAFTA-winning show will take a break after its 20th series in 2024.

The series previously took a hiatus in 2009 and returned four years later in 2013.

And while the duo can’t find time for their eponymous show, they will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV.

Now MailOnline takes a look at their reasons behind the surprising decision and when it will return for its final series.

Why did Ant and Dec quit Saturday Night Takeaway?

In a press release, Ant said, “We love making Saturday Night Takeaway, but hitting the 20-series milestone seemed like the perfect time to take a break and catch our breath.”

Dec added, “We’ve still got a memorable 20th series to look forward to, so we’ll do our best to go out with a bang (for now) in 2024!”

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 await what Ant & Dec have in store for the 2024 series, we fully understand their desire to take a break, take stock and after thinking about what the next incarnation will be. of the show could look like.’

In a video posted to Twitter Thursday night, Dec explained that they both “need a little rest” amid their other ongoing work commitments.

He said, “The show takes up such a big chunk of our year, we just feel like we need to take a little breather and rest a little bit.”

Wow! The Geordie presenters, both 47, announced that the multi-BAFTA-winning show will take a hiatus after 2024, following its 20th series (pictured in March 2023)

Throwback: The series previously took a hiatus in 2009 and returned four years later in 2013 (pictured in 2004)

When does the ITV show return?

Ant and Dec announced the show will take a break after 2024.

Saturday Night Takeaway, produced by Lifted Entertainment (part of ITV Studios) and Miter Studios, will return for its 20th series next year.

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 most recent series launched in February with ITV1’s largest nightly audience of the year, at 6.4 million viewers, and the largest entertainment audience across any channel.

The combination of live, high energy and feel good fun has led to the format winning multiple BAFTA and National Television Awards since its launch in 2002.

In their Twitter video, Ant said, “Hello everyone, we have news for you. Next year, in 2024, it will be our 20th Saturday Night Takeaway series and we have some very exciting new items.”

They announced the big news from Florida’s Universal Orlando Resort tonight after hosting the series finale.

Dec added: “And we’ve also decided that our 20th series next year will be our last for now.”

Ant and Dec – who first rose to prominence on Byker Grove in the late 1980s – first fronted the show from 2002 to 2009 when the show went on hiatus, and since returning in 2013 they’ve been joined by a series over the years co-presenters including Scarlett Moffatt, Stephen Mulhern and Jordan Banjo.

In 2021, the show – which relies heavily on studio audience participation – went virtual to continue the interaction.

Gloomy: In a video posted to Twitter on Thursday evening, Ant (left) said: ‘Hello everyone, we have news for you’