Saturday Night Takeaway fan theories on if ITV show is ending for good

Speculation is rife around why the iconic show is ending tonight

Ant and Dec will be saying farewell tonight as the last episode of Saturday Night Takeaway airs.

Tonight's show is featuring a wave of special guests, including Girls Aloud, who will pop out throughout the two-hour special. However, speculation is running rife as to whether this is truly the end of the show.

Previously, the show went on a four-year hiatus between 2009 and 2013 and then went on an additional hiatus after that. The Geordie hosts though have not definitively said the show is coming to and end this time hough.

Read more: Why is Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ending and could it come back?

Ahead of the series finale, Declan Donnelly said they were giving the show a 'rest' for now. He added: "We’re honoured and touched that for 20 series it’s been part of Saturday night TV viewing for so many families across the country. We’re giving it (and us!) a rest for now, but we’ll take away and treasure some very special memories and moments. We will most certainly miss it.”

Some suggested that not ending the show at this time would result in very little to no ideas, essentially equating the break to the producers recharging their batteries. Ant suggested as much to Fault Magazine, saying: "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." He added: "We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.

“‘Like I say, we’re turning 49, and what do we want to do next? What’s the next phase of our career? And we’ve got lots of ideas and lots of offers on the table, lots of options of things we can do. But it’s working on what we do next and where the next chapter begins.

“So that’s what we’re gonna do when Saturday Night Takeaway is out of the way. We’ll sit down, take a bit of time, and re-evaluate everything.”

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, fan @TaraWad73209764 said: "Take a break so there come up new ideas for Saturday night takeaway because hard do when there filming it sure that right."

@meh08398824 said: "im glad #SaturdayNightTakeaway is being rested because this season just felt like scraping the bottom of the barrel for "star" guest announcers".

Meanwhile, Rochelle White, of Rochelle White Agency, suggested to the Daily Star: "I think the show has been successful among many viewers and generations - great family entertainment TV show. But, they could be having a break to rethink the shows format and maybe limit when it is aired. For example, it could look to come back around the holiday times like Christmas and have the odd few shows like 'specials' throughout the year.

"It could be to work around schedules and to keep people interested. Sometimes, taking a break or mini hiatus could work. I think the show could come back, but maybe more towards the end of the year."