ITV Saturday Night Takeaway fans 'left sobbing' as Ant and Dec show ends after 20 series

ITV viewers tuning into the finale of Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend were left 'devastated', as hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly took to the stage for the final time

Saturday Night Takeaway hosts Ant and Dec brought plenty of chaos, as they bid farewell to their hit ITV series on Saturday night.

But as Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly got emotional after announcing the show was taking a break, and the latest episode was the final one, viewers were left "gutted". Fans tuning into the two hour long special watched as they pair were reunited with past stars of the show, and past segments of the show were brought back.

There was plenty of nostalgia, and fans were all saying the same thing as the episode went on. Many fans of the show confessed they had watched it for years, some since it began back in 2002.

So to see Ant and Dec bid farewell after so long, fans admitted they were "devastated" to know it was all over, especially not knowing if or when it would be back. Taking to X one fan posted: "Gutted @itvtakeaway is coming to an end. A staple of Saturday night viewing."

Another viewer said: "Why am I crying like an absolute baby at the final episode of @antanddec #SaturdayNightTakeaway?! I will really miss the show, as will millions who watch every week! But I really feel like this was a 'final goodbye' and not a 'see you later'!"

A third fan posted: "I am absolutely gutted," as a fourth said: "I’m sobbing I’m so sad it’s ending." A fifth fan posted: "I am DEVASTATED this is ending. So bittersweet," and a further comment read: "And the nation is crying!!!!"

It comes as the hosts opened up on their sadness at the show ending, while vowing it would return at some point. The pair confessed things would get emotional during the finale, as they pulled off an extended episode to bid goodbye to their series.

Previously the hosts had said it would be taking a break from screens, while there is no word on when it is likely to return to ITV in the future. Ant said: “I can't quite believe it will be the last show, we've thoroughly enjoyed making this final series.

“I know it'll be an emotional night but we intend to give Takeaway viewers a party to end all parties! It's been mixed emotions all week as we've been planning and rehearsing this final show.

“Saturday Night Takeaway is very special to us. We've made this two hour finale show a real celebration of all things SNT from over the years.”

Ant also teased: “I don’t want to give away too much but it will be a big goodbye…” to which Dec added: “…for now!” The pair also teased the finale episode, promising it would celebrate the series and would be “unpredictable”.

Ant said: “ It's genuinely the biggest Saturday Night Takeaway we've ever done! We're taking over the whole of TV Centre, it's going to be chaotic, unpredictable and hopefully very entertaining....anything could happen!”

Dec went on: “Everything is supersized for this very special live farewell show - we've got 3 stages, our main studio stage and two brand new purpose built stages outside TV Centre.” Viewers knew in advance there would be plenty of familiar faces, including celebrity guests and past show guests.

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway airs Saturdays at 7PM on ITV1 and ITVX.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .