Mystery as ITV Saturday Night Takeaway lists absent Amanda Holden in credits amid Sharon Osbourne feud

Fans of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway were desperate to see Amanda Holden appear on the last ever episode - only for her not to appear, but still receive a 'special guest' credit

Mystery has enveloped the last ever episode of ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway as Amanda Holden appeared to shun the show despite being credited as a ‘special guest’.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly blindsided fans last year when they revealed the 2024 season of their ITV game show would be the last ever - and this weekend saw the show reach an almighty climax with a two hour extravaganza finale filled with huge giveaways, unexpected violence, urgently required apologies, and a hoard of star guests. The lads had vowed to pull all the stops out to make the last ever episode one to remember - and it appeared getting their A List mates involved was part of that plan.

Huge stars returned to the show to help Ant and Dec celebrate that past twenty years of their success - with the likes of Girls Aloud, Simon Cowell, Holly Willoughby and Rylan Clark all turning up to take part in the grand finale. And among those stars expected to return included 53-year-old Amanda - with many fans tuning in to see her on the show.

Over the years, Amanda has appeared in multiple episodes of the hit ITV show - and already appeared in the last ever season. Last week, fans saw the star and Britain’s Got Talent head judge Simon appear in a segment titled Get Out Of Me Ear: The Revenge where stars lined up to whisper orders into Ant and Dec’s in-ear receivers while they dined in a restaurant - leading to hilarious events.

For the two hour live final, Simon returned to the show once again to sit alongside the hosts during the Get Out Of Me Ear segment - but viewers were disheartened not to see Amanda joining in on the fun. Many fans were under the impression that she would be taking part in the last ever episode of the show - while the end credits mysteriously listed Amanda as a “special guest” even though she was nowhere to be seen.

Many fans took to X to express their disappointment over the fact the bubbly presenter hadn’t been featured in the last ever episode. However, a spokesperson for the star has insisted she was never supposed to be part of the finale celebrations, and an ITV spokesperson has also suggested she was credited without appearing.

Amanda’s absence was noticed by a number of fans - with many taking to X to question where she was. After seeing the wide number of stars that crowbarred their way into the last ever episode, one commented: "Seems like Amanda hasn’t turned up.. #SaturdayNightTakeaway."

Another typed: "No Amanda Holden on #SaturdayNightTakeaway (wasn't she meant to be on tonight's finale alongside Simon Cowell) i wonder why." A further fan typed: “There’s something kinda funny about Amanda Holden not turning up to #SaturdayNightTakeaway tonight like planned…”

The confusion intensified when the episode ended and Amanda was featured in the “special guests” section despite not appearing on screen at any moment. One fan questioned: "Amanda Holden in the titles???? #SaturdayNightTakeaway." While another posted a screenshot of the credits with Amanda's name clearly listed and exclaimed: "Amanda Holden? The LIIIIES #SaturdayNightTakeaway." And others noted that celebs like Alison Hammond appeared on the ‘Get Out Of Me Ear’ segment despite their scenes not airing, with one observing: "#SaturdayNightTakeaway did they cut out the Simon & Amanda part. Why is Hammond there she was not even in any of them.." However, the scenes with Simon and Amanda had aired the week prior.

A spokesperson for ITV has offered an explanation as to why Amanda was listed in the credits but not seen on screen. They said: “Amanda was listed in credits along with every other celebrity involved in the Revenge GOOME (in studio or not). Amanda wasn't meant to be here tonight, nor was Holly, Gino [D’Acampo], Richard [Madeley] and Olly [Murs]” and added that: “All had prior engagements.”

Amanda’s own spokesperson also helped clarify this evening’s events, saying: “Amanda was to be a guest on SNT for the airing of her prank on Dec. Due to scheduling changes this pre-recorded segment was shown last week. Therefore Amanda was not required in the studio this evening.”

Amanda herself took to social media on Saturday to reveal she was enjoying a cocktail beside a swimming pool as the sun was beginning to go down. Sharing a photo via Instagram Stories, and holding out an inviting looking glass, the TV babe wrote: “Finally it’s that time” - while earlier snaps showed her visiting a castle with family members.

The BGT judge was making headlines earlier in the day, however, as she took aim at Sharon Osbourne as she defended Simon Cowell after the 71-year-old music manager said she’d never work with him again when she was a contestant on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother last week. Defending her friend and co-star, Amanda said in the last week: "I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon - he's the person who's given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn't have had."

However, this provoked a furious response from Sharon who took to social media to write: “Our worlds are totally different. I have been blessed with an amazing lifestyle throughout my entire life. Before you were born, I was living in a mansion in Beverly Hills, and continue to do so today and continue to have my country estate in England as well. But there is something you should know. I never discuss money, lifestyle, or positions of power. I find it to be classless and crude. However, you’ve now forced my hand to divulge these things to you and I honestly don’t want to seem like I’m bragging, but the truth is my money and success were not due to doing a couple of Simon Cowell shows. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed doing them at the time as they were great fun. Yes, Simon paid me very well. Probably more than what you’re receiving today, but all of that my darling went on a few handbags.”

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