Ant & Dec Saturday Night Takeaway viewers ‘disappointed’ with finale of 20th series: ‘Truly in the gutter’

Ant & Dec Saturday Night Takeaway viewers ‘disappointed’ with finale of 20th series: ‘Truly in the gutter’

Ant and Dec hosted their final show tonight

Lauren Williams

By Lauren Williams


Published: 13/04/2024

- 20:35

Updated: 13/04/2024

- 20:38

Ant & Dec are putting their popular Saturday night show to rest after 20 successful series

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly presented their final episode of Saturday Night Takeaway this evening but some fans felt underwhelmed with the two-hour spectacular.

The long-running ITV game show has been airing since 2002 and has churned out over 130 episodes across 20 impressive seasons.


The Geordie duo have put on a major show for their fans across the two hours, with Girls Aloud being the guest announcers.

Their sofa was filled with the celebrity Revengers, including Simon Cowell, Alison Hammond, Rylan, Craig David and many more appearing around the television centre.

Ant and Dec sang along with Tony Hadley, S Club and the Kaiser Chiefs, whilst Stephen Mulhern returned for the ultimate decider of Ant v Dec.

Their last challenge against one another was a penalty shoot-out, but whilst some fans were pleased to see the pair finally settle the score, many were left down with the “easy” challenge.

Ant and Dec

After 20 series Ant and Dec said goodbye to their series (for now)

ITV

Taking to their X accounts, one noted: “This show so far has been mid for a big finale?? the last challenge just being football? #saturdaynighttakeaway.”

“I'm a little disappointed that this final series of #SaturdayNightTakeaway did not feature once Grab the Ads,” another said.

One fumed: “I’m glad #SaturdayNightTakeaway is being rested because this season just felt like scraping the bottom of the barrel for ‘star’ guest announcers.”

“This show truly is in the gutter. They used to go to Disney and Universal on the last episodes of the series, and the fact they’re spending the last episode ever in the studios is just disappointing,” a fourth slammed.

Ant and Dec

Declan Donnelly won their last Ant v Dec challenge

ITV

An upset user commented: “Compared to some of the more extreme challenges Ant & Dec have done over the years - this challenge seems way too easy for the last one. #SaturdayNightTakeaway.”

“Sorry to be negative but this is so lame for a finale ant vs dec lol #SaturdayNightTakeaway,” another apologised. (sic)

Despite the viewers who were left annoyed, many fans were saddened to see the series come to an end, and no longer have Ant and Dec on their screens.

The pair dropped the bombshell last year and took to their Instagram in a joint video statement to share the news.

Ant and Dec

Ant and Dec hosted their final show

ITV

“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,” Ant noted.

Dec continued: “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.

“And we’ve also decided that 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.”

You may like