Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Taken Away

They've binned hit show

NEW IDEAS: Ant (left) & Dec

By Dan Wootton, 09/05/2009

ANT & Dec have quit their hit ITV1 show Saturday Night Takeaway after seven years, the News of the World can reveal.

Britain's highest paid TV duo are now working on THREE formats to replace the series - which was suffering from falling viewer numbers and soaring costs.

Later this year they will decide which one to use and launch it in 2010, as part of their lucrative new deal being negotiated with ITV.

Ant and Dec's current favourite is a Sunday night show where they tour Britain.

Close friends of the pair - Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - last night confirmed Takeaway will not be back next year.

One told us: "Ant and Dec have been involved in discussions about Takeaway and are working on a replacement show.

"It was their baby and the show they loved the most. They're really going to miss making it.

"But it costs a huge amount to make. The stunts are really expensive and in the credit crunch they can't be justified.

Fresh

"The boys are really excited about the new formats though. They are working furiously at the moment to get them just right.

"They know they can never stand still - and really want the challenge of a fresh show."

The last series of Takeaway, which ended in February, only pulled in six million viewers - down from nine million at its peak in 2004.

Ant & Dec are now hosting Britain's Got Talent as part of their £20 million, three-year golden handcuffs deal with the channel.

They also present its huge hit I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here.

New ITV1 boss Peter Fincham and his entertainment chief Elaine Bedell are desperate for the Geordie pair to re-sign when their contract runs out at the end of this year.

But ITV bosses are trying to cut 20 per cent from programming budgets following recent slumps in the company's share price.

If they slash Ant & Dec's pay, it may be more lucrative for them to work with alternative channels.

The source said: "Peter and Elaine are not in the business of getting offside with Ant and Dec. Elaine sat between them at the BAFTAs two weeks ago, a sign of how much she wants to keep working with them.

"But other broadcasters are already interested. Ant and Dec might be able to make more money by not signing up exclusively and being paid on a show-by-show basis.

"ITV will then have to shell out big bucks for them to keep hosting I'm A Celebrity and Britain's Got Talent."

An ITV spokesman confirmed Takeaway had not been recommissioned for 2010 but said no final decision about its future had been made.

It could be revived in a few years.

Senior sources at the channel confirmed they remained committed to Ant and Dec, and were talking to them about new shows.

Takeaway came second in ITV's 2005 poll of its top 50 TV shows, only being beaten by Coronation Street.

But it was terminally tainted by the News of the World's 2007 revelations that the show was part of TV's fakery scandal.

We revealed how viewers were conned into ringing premium phonelines for contests, although the winners had already been picked.

In a bid to restore their reputation, Ant and Dec persuaded ITV to donate the next series' phoneline profits to charity.

The show has also suffered creatively in recent years as some of the original backroom talent left to work for Simon Cowell in America.

Your comments

This article has 50 comments

YOU ARE KIDDING! SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY WAS MY FAVOURITE EVER SHOW ON TV!

By Nathan.. Posted February 27 2010 at 9:07 PM.

Denise Broadbent

I was very sad to hear that Saturday night take away had finished, it was the best. I read on my computer that 9 millon was watching it and now just 6 Million. You did not do a lot of DVDS of Saturday night take away and every show you made of Saturday night take away I always thought you would have made a new DVD, but you did not make one. I whish you all the best with you new show
Lots of love Denise
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

By Denise Broadbent.. Posted February 27 2010 at 4:15 PM.

push the button looks great!!! looks like a real laugh! hope its good (sure it will be)

By leia.. Posted February 21 2010 at 9:32 PM.

nooooo

bring saturday night takeaway back

By rachel.. Posted January 22 2010 at 5:54 PM.

I am Gutted!! I look forward to watching Takeaway every year can't believe it won't be on in 2010. Don't give up on us boys we need Ant & Dec on a saturday night, it's the only good viewing of saturday evening and yes there is a credit crunch and hense why the great british public stay in of a weekend and look forward to watching great entertainment from the boys. Come back Ant & Dec we need "Saturday Night Takaway"

Love you guys good luck x

By Amanda.. Posted November 6 2009 at 12:10 PM.

Oh no no NO... i love ant & dec esp their takeaway!
What is saturday without ant & dec... please don't tell me their are quitting,like!

But no matter what, no matter where they go.. their humour will follow

By SY.. Posted November 2 2009 at 8:18 AM.

Ant , Dec please bring back Saturday Night Takeaway you know you want to. remember you 2 sent me a birthday card when i was 29.

My name is Sue Peacey i am 30 now & i'm still your biggest fans.i'm also your best mate. pretty please don't quit Saturday Night Takeaway i love watching it.

I love you Ant sweetie, Dec gorgeous

Sue your best mate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By Sue Peacey.. Posted September 28 2009 at 6:08 PM.

i will miss the show a wont watch the replacement show if ant and dec are not in it. plz bring back a show with them in it the other shows with them in it are not the same

By amber.. Posted July 22 2009 at 10:22 PM.

I love Ant and Dec so so so much as i come from the same town as them NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE. they are the Best TV Duo ever PLEASE PLEASE DON@T CACEL SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY ITS the BEST EVER xoxoxoxo LOVE YOU BOYS very Much xoxo GOOD luck

By Ashleigh storey.. Posted June 10 2009 at 9:58 PM.

I may be the same age as Ant and Dec, but I feel like a teenager when I see pictures of them. I absolutely love Ant and Dec...they're the only reason why I watch I'm a Celebrity and Britains Got Talent. Really gutted that they will no longer be presenting Takeaway . Please, Please don't leave the other programmes...

By Michelle Withey.. Posted May 28 2009 at 10:07 PM.

I love all the shows that Ant and Dec do but most of all I LOVE saturday night takeaway. Please keep it on saturday nights would be boring without them.
xxx

By Chloe.. Posted May 12 2009 at 11:54 PM.

DON'T YOU DARE CANCEL THE SHOW!!
IT'S BRILLIANT!!! I LOVE ANT AND DEC-THEY'RE SO SEXY! PLEASE DON'T!

By Emma-Jane.. Posted May 12 2009 at 9:08 PM.

I really enjoy watchng the takeaway and i will miss it. Ant & Dec are fantastic host presenters and i will enjoy seeing them with there new shows.

Also Ant & Dec are really funny and enjoyable to watch, no one can replace the guys and ITV are so lucjy to have them

By Sandra Thomson.. Posted May 11 2009 at 11:05 PM.

why cant we keep ant and dec saturday night take away on becouse evryone likes it and Anthony and Declan are best friends and we all like them. and ant vs dec is well good keep ant and dec saturday night take away on

By paula millington.. Posted May 11 2009 at 1:21 PM.

We are told they are loved by all generations. Hello!!! they are not. In my opinion their immature antics seem to be aimed at the very young - Silly schoolboy comments also irk me and remind me of playground banter. I have problems understanding them as well.

I'm sure they are decent individuals but great entertainers they are not.

By Terry Hutchinson.. Posted May 11 2009 at 9:15 AM.

I am really surprised that Saturday Night Takeaway is not returning ( silly pay cuts !) but I love Ant and Dec so much that I know they'll work very hard to make a great show, whatever they do they will a success anyway, I have got every faith in them!!
Dec is my first fave ( adorable , handsome and cherubic and gorgeous! Ant I love to with his cheeky grin lovely smile, to name but a few!

all the very Ant and Dec, you'll do great and all the very best for the future! . I hope to meet you soon!? love Abby XXXX

By Abby Stansfield.. Posted May 11 2009 at 6:53 AM.

I love Ant and Dec, especially Ant, he has such a cheeky way about him.
I love them in *I'm a celebrity get me out of here*, I love how they try so hard not to laugh at the screams during the trials, but they always end up in tucks of laughter which makes me laugh with them.
Carry on Ant and Dec!!

By Laura.. Posted May 11 2009 at 12:15 AM.

this is the only decent thing on tv on a saturday!!!!
why r they axing it????????????

By lubna.. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:28 PM.

Nooooo!! Takeaway was the only decent thing to watch at the weekend!!

By Shannon.. Posted May 10 2009 at 10:42 PM.

I love ANT and DEC - especially DEC... i love thier show.. am so annoyed its finished. I miss little and ant and dec from thier show aswell. I love them in Britains got talent - they make the show !!!

By Natalie.. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:23 PM.

Thanks to the lads for being positive it takes a lot of guts to give something up you enjoy doing - will be good to see other different programs on t.v. variety is the spice of life. so good luck ant and dec.

By Carole.. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:58 PM.

oh no i loved that show it was brilliant im gutted...

By tanya.. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:37 PM.

Good riddance! Takeaway has been stale and boring for years now, it's just the same old thing every episode. I'm surprised its took this long to axe it really

By Krabbs.. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:39 PM.

i used to watched it, but i got bored of it and them cos they constanly on ITV all the time. we just saw them on am celebrity get me out of here. they never stop on tv. i think they r greedy all them time. i want to see others old and new tv presenters who deserve it. give someone else a chance of their careers. they had been on tv since they were kids. dont get me wrong i do like them and they funny but cant watch differents shows with same presenters on it all the time. i want cilla black come back she a lorra lorra laugh and i like to see davina mccall on tv instead of big brother. she funny too.

By Ciara.. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:29 PM.

i love the programme will be sad to see it go...

By shell.. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:08 PM.

for everyone who slags off ant and dec why don't you grow up. if you don't likte them don't watch them and why click on the article to read about them, we should be happy to see them on tv they are fantastic together and it is nice to see such a good humoured relationship the two have it makes entertainment, so grow up.

By Sambora256.. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:57 PM.

i love saturday night take away with ant and dec ... the perfect way to spend a saturday night watching it. gonna b missed. hopefully they will think of something just as brill. good luck u geordie dua xxx

By katie.. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:32 PM.

NO WAY!!!
Any and Dec make ITV on a Saturday night!
I love both of them.
I will miss their gorgeous Jordy accent on a Satuday night!
Yes we have Britains Got Talent, but they are well funnier and cuter on Takeaway!!
Do NOT stop going the takeaway PLEASEE!!
So sad to hear it...
:{

By Jessica.. Posted May 10 2009 at 4:58 PM.

To say I'm gutted would be an understatement.
Ant & Dec are hard working, genuine & down to earth & I for one will miss Takeaway. I know the boys will bounce back from this & will rise like a phoenix from the ashes with a show bigger & better than anything they've done before.
Good luck boys - this is one household that needs you back sooner rather than later!

By Sharon.. Posted May 10 2009 at 1:48 PM.

Omg! How rude are some of you? Ant and Dec are national treasures, and if they weren't good at what they do they wouldn't have had so many successful shows! I'm sad takeaway is coming to an end, but I wish the boys all the luck with their new ideas, and I for one will be tuning in with whatever they do next. And as for all the haters on here, seriously, if you don't like them, don't watch them and don't read news articles about them. Don't taint the comments with rude, obnoxious drivel!

By Steph.. Posted May 10 2009 at 1:50 PM.

i love ant and dec and i am truly gutted there not doing takeaway and i am sick to the back teeth of people slagging them off they have done nothin wrong if you dont like them dont watch then its simple as that

By lisa .. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:24 PM.

noooooo! i love saturday night takeaway - it makes saturdays worth staying in for :( i love ant and dec hope they come back with some thing better :) x

By jamieleigh.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:21 PM.

no way i love the boys on this programme,well on anything REALLY especially dec he is gorgeous no no no no no no no way keep them on it makes my saturday evening i miss it when it finishes and get excited when it comes back on so no way

By joanne griffiths.. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:50 AM.

About time these two split. Actually find Dec funny but Tefal head Ant lives on the back of him and is so unfunny! Need some new talent in the uk and if these two are the height of it god help us!

By Pazza.. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:42 AM.

I really enjoyed watching the show and i really like Ant & Dec, they are great entertainers. Im gutted the shows come to an end but hopefully the boys will think of something better and exciting. The show did get a little boring last series and after 7 years they just need a change. They also cant be blamed for the scandal either it wasnt their fault. Good Luck Ant&Decxxx

By Charlotte.. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:36 AM.

No way can't belive Take away not comming back on me and the wife loved it must admit last series wasn't as good as previous. But it was real good family entertainment to save a shed load of cash why don't they stop presenting B.G.T. thats just a waste of wages. No more Kirsty on a Saturday thats just scanderlass!!!

By jazz.. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:22 AM.

Since the premium phoneline scandal the show has been tainted,so take it off the air and if we have to suffer the conjoined twins then give us something watchable.

.

By mrs_spratt.. Posted May 10 2009 at 10:45 AM.

We will miss you on Takeaway and hope u will be back on our screens really soon. Saturday night will never be the same if you two are not on. You are fun to watch and always make the family laugh. Ant & Dec you are entertaining and you make Saturday night on ITV. Good luck with your new format.

By Joanne Fresco.. Posted May 10 2009 at 10:36 AM.

I love Ant & Dec but when its the same format every week on a show it does tend to get a bit boring, they cant be blamed for the phone scandal so i dont agree with comments like that being made, but i do think it has run its course.

By Debbie.. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:47 AM.

I never ever watch any show where those two mindless idiots Ant & Dec are included and never will, get rid of them.

By Peter.. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:14 AM.

Yeah they should get rid of it and also for Ant and Dec for the FRAUD they comitted with the phone in on one of their shows.

By Alex.. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:02 AM.

Takeaway should stay however, it needs a major revamp. It needs to be taken back to when it was at it's peak, with the sketches/features that really did make it unmissable TV. Maybe a couple of years break would help it..

By Jodie.. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:17 AM.

I loved takeaway and will miss it on a Saturday night but as long as Ant & Dec don't disappear to then thats ok. Love you boys xxxxxxxxx

By Mary Parkes.. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:11 AM.

I Used to love it, but the last series was boring. Once they stopped taking the phone in money, no one ever won anything. That mousetrap game was way too hard, never saw anyone win alot on that. Most of the ideas were pinched from Noel's house party anyway. the celebs were all from the jungle, or about to go into the jungle. I love Ant and Dec but need something new from them.

By Vicky.. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:35 AM.

It was the best show on Saturday nights. My family & I were always sat down together, ready to watch! Am sad to hear it's not coming back :-{
Ant & Dec make great entertainment!!!!

By Kelly.. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:13 AM.

Got rid of Takeaway - all we need now is to be rid of Ant and Dec

By laura.. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:09 AM.

I have only seen it once and I could not understand what this pair were saying. It cannot see that they have talent.

By Jonathan.. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:22 AM.

Ive never watched it before, but I really hope that they do cancel it....I cant stand ant and dec, and have been unable to watch ITV for years because of them....

By Tina.. Posted May 10 2009 at 1:47 AM.

i'ts run it's course, its to dated and pedicable the same old b.c.d celebs,can't they see we can see whats coming,its ran out of idea's and lost its way.

By billy lavelle.. Posted May 9 2009 at 11:58 PM.

i love ant and dec and its an awful shame about this show, but i suppose its good in some ways as its keeping it fresh and like it says, they're being given new challenges.
so good luck boys.

By kerry.. Posted May 9 2009 at 11:39 PM.

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