Ant and Dec will be saying farewell to the Saturday Night Takeaway audience tonight
(Image: ITV)

Saturday Night Takeaway viewers left heartbroken as ITV show airs final episode

The ITV series is airing its final episode tonight after a previous 20-year hiatus

by · Manchester Evening News

Saturday Night Takeaway viewers were left heartbrokwn today as Ant and Dec gave a heartfelt farewell to viewers.

The ITV series aired its final episode tonight with a two-hour special. Previously, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnely confirmed the current series of the iconic show will be its last one for a while.

It comes after the show took a 20-year hiatus. So far, there has been no confirmation from Ant, Dec, ITV, or any other TV network whether the series will make a comeback.

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The end of the series was greeted with a celebratory farewell, rather than a solemn one with hyped up live music and fans cheering in unison. Dec highlighted that they're "going out with a bang" tonight and said the show is taking over the whole ITV studio.

One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Genuinely so upset this is the final saturday night takeaway." A second said: "This time next year, we'll all be watching...nothing. Because without Saturday Night Takeaway, there will be literally nothing on between 7-9pm."

A third added: "I’m not sure I’m ready for Saturday Night Takeaway to be over." While a fourth said: "As much as I think the quality has dipped slightly for Saturday Night Takeaway, I feel so sad watching the last ever one.

"I’ve watched every year since 2002 and it’ll be strange for it not to be on again" A fifth added: "Cant believe this is the last saturday night takeaway ever im actually upset guys."

The final episode of Saturday Night Takeaway will air live on ITV1 for the rest of the night until 9pm.