Ant and Dec say they need 'a breather' as they announce ITV Saturday Night Takeaway news

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have given fans an update on the future of Saturday Night Takeaway.

The duo confirmed that the popular ITV show would be taking a break for a while, after its 20th series next year. In a video shared on Twitter, Dec said: "We've also decided our 20th 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 little bit of a rest."

The pair promised there would be some 'very special' look-backs planned as well as 'exciting new items' in the upcoming series. 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.

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Saturday Night Takeaway previously took a pause in 2009, returning four years later in 2013. It has received multiple Bafta and National Television Awards (NTA), including presenting accolades for Ant and Dec, since its launch in 2002.

The pair will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV, as hosts of shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win.

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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