Saturday Night Takeaway: Ant and Dec make their triumphant return

Saturday Night Takeaway: Ant and Dec make triumphant return to the show and gush ‘it’s a privilege’ to be back amid the coronavirus crisis… but some fans slam ‘distracting’ audio problems

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway made its triumphant return to the small screen, though some viewers criticised its ‘distracting’ audio problems. 

Opening the show with a bang, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 45, came onto the stage to the cheers of the 300-strong virtual crowd, as Gary Barlow and Beverly Knight performed a song together.

Gushing about being able to return, Ant said they were ‘so excited to be back in the studio, things are going to be very different this year but its a privilege to bring you your Saturday Night Takeaway every week.’

It’s back! Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway made its  triumphant return on Friday and gush ‘it’s a privilege’ to be able to bring the show back amid the coronavirus crisis

Dec went on: ‘For the first time ever we can see into the living room live of 300 people all at the same time.’

Joking about how they didn’t want the audience to misbehave while they were at home, he added: ‘Please all be decent, please.’

Earlier on, the Geordie duo starred in an amusing black-and-white montage that saw them bored at home for days as they waited for the return of the show, trying to keep busy with puzzles and baking banana bread.  

Despite the joy the show brought to viewers, there were some who were unhappy with the sound of the virtual audience in the background as they claimed the feedback was ‘distracting’ to hear.

Delighted: Gushing about being able to return, Ant said they were ‘so excited to be back in the studio, things are going to be very different this year but its a privilege’

Virtual: Ant and Dec came onto the stage to the cheers of the 300-strong virtual crowd

Jokers: Earlier on, the Geordie duo starred in an amusing black-and-white montage that saw them bored at home for days as they waited for the return of the show

One person wrote: ‘Love @antanddec #SaturdayNightTakeaway and so grateful for the thanks you gave teachers. However, please work on the sound…feedback from virtual audience is so distracting.’

Another added: ‘#SaturdayNightTakeaway too many sound issues tonight, it’s very off putting and distracting.’

While another suggested: ‘#SaturdayNightTakeaway the audience needs to turn their TVs down. It’s so distracting.’

One fan also requested: ‘Dear Producers, please turn off the sound from the Zoom microphones. So distracting!’  

Unhappy: Despite the joy the show brought to viewers, there were some who were unhappy with the sound of the virtual audience in the background and claimed it was ‘distracting’

As the show kicked off, Ant and Dec began by surprising teacher Mrs Crawley with an array of gifts, which they had done over the course of the year with the help of her current and previous students, to help celebrate her forthcoming retirement. 

The show was a star-studded affair, with the launch show seeing guests including Harry and Jamie Redknapp, It’s a Sin star Olly Alexander, Gary and Beverly all making an appearance. 

Stephen Mulhern left Ant and Dec in hysterics when he arrived at the studio painted entirely in gold, and wearing a matching tank top and shorts.

The presenter, 43, was on to introduce the Ant Vs Dec tournament, and pretended to do a back flip with the help of a stunt double.

Sweet: Ant and Dec began by surprising teacher Mrs Crawley with an array of gifts, with the help of her current and previous students, to help celebrate her forthcoming retirement

Amusing: Stephen Mulhern left Ant and Dec in hysterics when he arrived at the studio painted entirely in gold, and wearing a matching tank top and shorts, for the Ant Vs Dec tournament

Going for gold: Stephen pretended to do a back flip with the help of a stunt double and showed off his painted-on abs to Ant and Dec, who couldn’t stop laughing at his attire for the evening

He joked that he ‘said no’ to appearing on the show but ‘money talks’ before he flaunted his painted-on abs to Ant and Dec, who couldn’t stop laughing at his attire for the evening’s event.

Even Olly, who was the guest announcer for the show, joked that Stephen had upstaged him with his looks, even though the singer changed his outfits every time there was an ad break.  

Ant and Dec were challenged to play a game that mixed football with miniature golf on a course that was inspired by Mulhern, and even featured a giant statue of his head, and Ant won his first gold medal of the series.

Looking fabulous: Even Olly Alexander, who was the guest announcer for the show, joked that Stephen had upstaged him, even though he planned on changing his outfit every ad break

Having fun: Ant and Dec also slid down an inflatable slide during the show for fun

Jamie and Harry were on to take part in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Out Of Me Ear segment, where they pretended to interview prospective staff for a fictional restaurant, and both kept bursting into laughter. 

At the request of the presenters, former footballer Harry, 73, cheekily asked a potential waiter: ‘If we want you, do you think they’d be a transfer fee involved?’ 

An amused Jamie, 47, welcomed Thomas to the eatery and explained his false intentions as he said: ‘Thanks for coming here. 

Losing it:  Jamie and Harry Redknapp took part in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Out Of Me Ear segment, where they pretended to interview prospective staff for a fictional restaurant

Up to no good: Ant and Dec burst into fits of giggles as they took part in a funny segment, which saw them make Jamie joke he was a ‘beautiful man’

‘Let’s tell you about this restaurant because this is a new venture. We want good waiting staff, that’s why we’ve asked you to come at the minute.’

As the broadcasters forced Harry to find out about his occupation, the interviewee revealed he’s a transport manager for a recycling firm.

The 2018 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! champ linked the job to his football career as he was pressed to ask: ‘If we try to get you from the firm you’re at now, do you think they’d be a transfer fee involved?’

A League of Their Own star Jamie nearly spat out his tea as he told his dad: ‘No dad, that’s not how it works. You don’t buy and sell people! He has to equate everything to football. Thomas I’m sorry mate, what does that have to do with anything?’

Hilarious: The presenters asked Harry to ask one waiter: ‘If we try to get you from the firm you’re at now, do you think they’d be a transfer fee involved?’

Unexpected: Gary Barlow performed his hit Incredible for the End Of The Show Show, which saw him sing alongside an ‘edible’ orchestra, who used vegetables instead of instruments

What’s going on? The singer made a number of vegetable-based puns at the prompting of Ant and Dec, and while he was shocked at first he soon got into the unexpected routine

Harry didn’t stop there as he joked: ‘If we had to pay a fee, what are we talking? A couple of mil, two mil?’, before Ant and Dec laughed: ‘Haha, they’ve lost the plot!’ 

Barlow performed his hit Incredible for the End of the Show Show, which saw him sing alongside an ‘edible’ orchestra, who used vegetables instead of instruments.

The singer made a number of vegetable-based puns at the prompting of Ant and Dec, and while he was shocked at first he soon got into the unexpected routine. 

On Friday, Ant and Dec gave fans a glimpse at the ‘very different’ Saturday Night Takeaway studio ahead of the series long-awaited return. 

Tease: On Friday, Ant and Dec gave fans a glimpse at the ‘very different’ Saturday Night Takeaway studio ahead of the series long-awaited return 

The duo admitted the series will be ‘very different’ to those past, as they prepared to host the beloved show with a virtual audience of 300 people due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. 

Ant and Dec spoke about the changes to the Takeaway studio during an appearance on Friday’s This Morning.

The pair were in the midst of rehearsals for the show Television Centre in West London, and revealed they’ve spent six months pre-recording content that will feature in the new series.

Dec said: ‘The show’s going to quite different – we have no studio audience here which is such an important part of Takeaway.

Changes: The duo have admitted this series will be ‘very different’ to those past, as they prepare to host the beloved show with a virtual audience of 300 people

Transition: Ant and Dec spoke about the changes to the Takeaway studio during an appearance on Friday’s This Morning

‘We’ve got a virtual audience but it’ll be very different. We’ve been getting the show together in very different circumstances.

‘We’ve had lockdowns and restrictions in place. But we’ve managed in the last six to eight months get enough VT stuff to get in the show, enough hidden camera stuff.

‘We’ve got a series – it’ll be different but hopefully no less fun and entertaining.’

While it’s likely Ant and Dec will have to adhere to social distancing with their celebrity guests, the duo have formed a cohort, meaning they’re tested regularly and do not need to stand two metres apart.

Changes: Fans got a glimpse of the new studio which features a vast screen for the virtual audience, as has been used in other ITV shows such as The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent

Hard at work: The pair were in the midst of rehearsals for the show Television Centre in West London, and revealed they’ve spent six months pre-recording content

Last year’s series of Saturday Night Takeaway was forced to air its last live episode without an audience due to impending lockdown, and ended with two highlights shows.

Joining the pair, former Big Brother star Davina McCall and Sir Mo Farah will also be pranked over the course of the new series. 

Recurring skit Double Trouble will see a pair of Ant and Dec clones go rogue and will feature several stars, including Bear Grylls, Prue Leith, Rob Brydon, Alison Hammond and Jermaine Jenas.

Show regular Mulhern will put the hosts through their paces in the Ant vs Dec challenges, while singer Fleur East fronts a brand-new segment.  

On screen soon: The new series of Takeaway will feature the new recurring skit Double Trouble, as well as the return of I’m A Celebrity Get Out Of Me Ear

ITV have also confirmed the 90-minute show will be filmed in front of a virtual studio audience who will be in with the chance to Win The Ads. 

Ant and Dec will once again wear prosthetic costumes to play pandas Bam and Boo for the new series, in which they will need the help of children to escape from London toy store Hamleys. 

There will also be a new Saturday Night Takeaway show on the ITV Hub, consisting of seven 10-minute episodes which will feature new interviews with Ant and Dec and be jam packed with exclusive behind-the-scenes gossip.   

On screen soon: ITV have also confirmed the 90-minute show will be filmed in front of a virtual studio audience who will be in with the chance to Win The Ads

Source: Read Full Article