Ant and Dec on ‘bittersweet’ decision to ‘step off the hamster wheel’

Ant and Dec previously opened up about their decision to end Saturday Night Takeaway.

Since filming for Fame, the Geordie duo have become a TV presenting duo.

From hosting Britain’s Got Talent to the Saturday Night Takeaway event itself, Ant and Dec have been kept busy over the years. The lads are bad on the screen this weekend too, for the show I’m A Celebrity Coming Out on Saturday (December 14).

But in 2023, the boys caused fans to wake up when they confirmed they were taking a break from Saturday Night Takeaway.

Ant and Dec in taking a break from SNT

The Geordie duo hosted their final episode of Saturday Night Takeaway in April 2024 after more than two decades on air. Fans were gutted when ants and Dec announced they will take a break from the show after its 20th series.

And apparently the decision to end things came down to the couple who now have families of their own.

Dec is married to Ali Astall and a father of two. Meanwhile Ant, recently became a dad for the first time with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett – who gave birth to their baby Wilder in May earlier this year.

Ant and Dec ‘want to step off the hamster wheel’

Talk to you The Independent in February ahead of their final SNT episode, Ant and Dec opened up on why they stopped the show.

“It was a difficult decision to put Takeaway on hiatus, but they are on the same page,” December he said, before he added: “Twenty series is just a natural point to pause. We don’t want to say we’ll never do it again. But we both have families now. Our lives have changed dramatically. We want to get off the hamster wheel, hold your breath and decide what to do next.

Ant later described it as “bittersweet” but admitted it “felt right”.

SNT’s final episode

In April 2024, Ant and Des hold their final Saturday Night Takeaway show for a while. In an emotional ending to the show, a tearful Dec said: “We’ve absolutely loved every second of doing this show.

“But there’s one thing we never forget. That’s the fact that it’s not our show, it’s your show. So we want to say thank you to you, our audience.

I’m a Celebrity… Get me out of here! Coming Out airs on Saturday (December 14) at 9.35pm on ITV1.

Read more: I’m A celebrity host Ant McPartlin in tears as Coleen Rooney reunites with son: ‘I’m crying!’

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