Real reason ITV Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ended as duo need 'space'

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has been a firm favourite with viewers for 20 years, but the Geordie duo announced last year that the current season would be its last

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway aired its final episode, leaving fans heartbroken as hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly said an emotional goodbye after 20 years on air.

For nearly a year, fans have been grappling with the knowledge that the current season would be the last, following the Geordie duo's announcement last year that they would wrap up the show in 2024.

The beloved game-show has been a fixture on ITV since 2002, producing over 130 episodes across an impressive 20 seasons. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

Since February, viewers have been tuning into the final season, participating in competitions, watching the live studio audience engage in comedic game show sketches, and being moved by the Happiest Minute Of The Week segment where the hosts reward deserving individuals with lavish prizes.

But the fun and prize-giving came to a sudden halt during the two-hour live finale of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on April 13, reports the Daily Record.

Many are wondering why the show has been cancelled. Here, we delve deeper into the reasons Ant and Dec have provided for ending their much-loved show.

Original statement

Ant and Dec stunned their fans in May with the announcement that they would be taking a break from Saturday Night Takeaway after its 2024 season.

The much-loved presenting pair took to Instagram to share the news via a touching video statement.

Ant began, "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."

Dec added, "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."

Ant went on to say, "Next year in 2024 it will be the 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway and we've got some very special look-backs planned, as well as some very exciting new items."

Dec also said, "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 to take a little bit of a rest."

They reassured fans that the upcoming final season wouldn't disappoint, suggesting it might not be the end for good. Ant mentioned, "But before that though, we've got the 20th series to plan."

In February, as the 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway commenced, Ant McPartlin explained further why he and Dec Donnelly were opting for a hiatus from the programme.

Ant and Dec have expressed their desire to spend more time with their families as a key motivation behind the decision to pause Saturday Night Takeaway, instead of dedicating their weekends to the live prime-time show. Ant opened up about this in a heart-to-heart with Fault magazine: "On a more personal level, part of the reason we're pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.

"We've both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now."

Speaking about his relationship with his co-star, Ant candidly spoke about how they've evolved over time. He said: "We started working together when we were 13, and we became friends very quickly."

"But, you know, we're both 49 this year. We're obviously not the same people that we were when we were 13. So throughout our career, you know, we've both changed."

"But being able to maintain that friendship doesn't come naturally. Sometimes you have to work with friendships, and sometimes you have to compromise and sometimes you have to give each other space and time and whatever."

But what's the real reason behind this decision?

A few days before the grand finale, Ant and Dec once again shared their perspective on why they've decided to put a pause on the popular show. Speaking to The Independent, Dec admitted: "Twenty series just feels like a natural point to pause... We don't want to say we'll never do it again."

"But we've both got families now. Our lives have changed dramatically. We want to step off the hamster wheel, catch our breath and decide what's next."

Ant added his thoughts: "It will be bittersweet, with lots of tears, but it feels like the right thing."

However, Dec suggested there might be more to come: "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."

Ant also shared his feelings of accomplishment: "To have our own show, with our names in the title, in the heart of primetime felt like a huge feat for two lads from Newcastle."