Ant and Dec on the future of Saturday Night Takeaway

Virgin Radio

11 May 2022, 10:17

British TV icons Ant and Dec have given us an update on what to expect from the future of Saturday Night Takeaway.

The variety show, created by the pair, has been a firm favourite with viewers since it first premiered on ITV in 2002 and then again in 2013 with its whacky challenges and celebrity guests.

Speaking to virginradio.co.uk and other press after winning Best Entertainment Programme at the BAFTAs on Sunday (8 May), Declan Donnelly revealed what was in store for the hit show.

He said: “We’re already starting on the 19th [series] next year. We’re just going to keep going as long as we can. As long as the knees hold out and the back holds out, we’ll keep going.

“We absolutely love it.”

The presenter added that a show like Saturday Night Takeaway was something the pair had always wanted to do since they worked in kids TV.

He explained: “We were brought up on shows like this, like Game For A Laugh and Noel’s House Party and Beedles About- proper British entertainment that the whole family could watch.

“It’s the show we always wanted to make, and we’re doing it now, and we absolutely love it. To still be winning awards for it 17 series on is incredible.”

The show has become famous for all the outlandish pranks they do on unsuspecting celebrities, and according to Ant and Dec, they were particularly happy to get Jeremy Clarkson after eight years of trying.

They added: “We’ve got a list of people, and we’re slowly working our way through, and we’re working on a few people…a few people here tonight are actually on the list. It’s quite strange to see them, and then we go ‘Hi, how are you? Oh God, we’re gonna try and get you!’”

On one of the show’s most iconic episodes, the comedy duo dressed up in drag with some of the stars of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. You can read what they had to say about that here.