Title:
Ant and Dec Say Emotional Goodbye After 20 Years – Tears Shed on Saturday Night Takeaway Finale
Content:
Ant and Dec bid farewell to their iconic show, Saturday Night Takeaway, in an emotional two-hour live finale that left both hosts in tears. The Geordie duo, who have entertained audiences for two decades, led a star-studded singalong to conclude the much-loved ITV prime-time entertainment hit.
‘Not a dry eye in the house’
The extravaganza, which took place at Television Centre in White City, West London, featured an outdoor musical medley with performances from well-known artists like McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, along with the likes of S Club, Kaiser Chiefs, and Craig David. The show also saw appearances from a multitude of showbiz faces, including Girls Aloud, Josie Gibson, Scarlett Moffatt, Ashley Roberts, Davina McCall, and Oti Mabuse.
In a heartfelt moment, Declan Donnelly expressed his gratitude to the audience, stating, “We’ve truly adored every second, what’s happened is beyond our wildest dreams.” This sentiment was echoed by Ant McPartlin, who shared, “This is the kind of show Dec and I watched every Saturday night growing up, so it’s been an honor and a privilege to have made this show and to have been part of your Saturday nights for over 20 years.”
As the duo, both 48, joined the musical medley with McFly, and fellow artists, the atmosphere was charged with emotion. Ant emphasized, “We’ve truly adored every second, but there’s one thing we’ve never, ever forgotten and that’s the fact this isn’t our show — it’s your show.”
The farewell culminated in a spectacular firework display, leaving the audience and crew alike overwhelmed with emotions. The likes of Kirsty Gallacher, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, Ben Foster, Andi Peters, Tony Hadley, and Jordan North joined Ant and Dec on stage for a special rendition of Celebration by Kool & The Gang as part of the “End of the Show, Show” segment.
Throughout the event, there were tears shed behind the scenes, with even celebrities like Cheryl getting emotional during dress rehearsals. Ant’s wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, provided support backstage during the poignant moment, and the entire cast and crew later celebrated at a party.
The variety show first aired on ITV1 in 2002 and continued its run until 2009 before returning in 2013 until its final broadcast in 2024. The legacy of Saturday Night Takeaway will undoubtedly live on, as fans and celebrities alike reminisce about the impact it had on their Saturday nights.