Ant and Dec's SNT returns this weekend with hilarious Simon Cowell prank
Saturday Night Takeaway is back!
Following last year's incredible series of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, the Geordie boys are back for a brand new series of the hit entertainment show, which kicks off this weekend!
After it was announced last year that the upcoming 20th series of the show will be the last for a while, fans are gearing up for the new episodes, which will once again air on ITV/STV.
When does Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway start?
ITV have confirmed that series 20 will air on Saturday 24th February at 7pm on ITV1, STV, STV Player & ITVX.
Is there a trailer?
A 30-second teaser trailer was unveiled on Tuesday 13th February, featuring footage of Ant and Dec from the last 19 series.
As Ant asks Dec: "Do you reckon you've got more one series in you?", Dec responds: "Try and stop me. There's a lot to pack in though."
How can I watch it?
Viewers will be able to watch new episodes every Saturday night at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX, and STV1 and STV Player for viewers in Scotland.
What will happen on the new series of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway?
In what is dubbed the 'happiest 90 minutes of the week', fans will be pleased to know classic features such as I’m A Celebrity…Get Out Of Me Ear, Singalong Live, Win the Ads, and Ring My Bell are all set to return for the 2024 series.
Episode one will feature Stephen Merchant as the Guest Announcer, whilst viewers will get to see the brand new little Ant & Dec for the first time! Simon Cowell will also feature in 'Undercover', whilst Becky Hill and Urban Theory give a special End of the Show Show performance.
Ahead of the first episode, Ant and Dec have released a teaser clip of the hilarious prank they pull on Simon Cowell.
Sharing the clip on social media, the boys wrote: 'We got him (again)!!! Sorry @simoncowell but we are wheely excited 😏 #SaturdayNightTakeaway starts this Saturday at 7pm 🥳'. (sic)
Dec says: "We are ending the Undercovers where we started… with Simon Cowell! Our first ever Undercover was on Simon in LA when he was a judge on American Idol. So we've gone back and got Simon Cowell again. We went out to LA and gave him the day from hell whilst he was judging on America's Got Talent."
Ant added: "It was even sweeter getting him the second time round because we also got him during his downtime as he’s riding his bike around Malibu, it’s very, very funny."
Will it be the last series?
In May 2023, Ant and Dec confirmed Saturday Night Takeaway would be taking a break following the 20th series in 2024.
Sharing a video on their socials, Ant said: "Hi everyone, we've got some news for you. You see next year, in 2024, it will be our 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway. And we've got some very special look-backs planned as well as some very exciting new items."
Dec then continued: "And we've also decided that our 20th series next year, will be our last one or a little while. The show takes up such a lot of our year, we just feel we need a bit of a breather and that the show is going to take a little bit of a rest."
Ant then said: "But before that though, we've got the 20th series to plan haven't we?"
With Dec then agreeing: "Yes, and we're looking forward to it!"
Believe it or not, the brand new series of Saturday Night Takeaway will be the 20th, with the show first hitting our screens way back in 2002.
The hit show has become a staple of Saturday night TV over the years, with hosts Ant and Dec winning ample awards for their ideas.
Check out these amazing facts about Ant and Dec:
1. Ant and Dec become friends through football
Believe it or not the pair didn't get along at first but it was their joint love for football and in particular their local team Newcastle United that bonded the pair together.
According to reports, Ant invited Dec along to Newcastle's Boxing Day match in 1990 and the rest is history.
2. They were neighbours for a number of years
Not only do they work together but Ant and Dec used to live just three doors away from each other in West London! However, after Ant's split from his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong, Ant bought a new £5 million home in South West London.
Despite this, Ant and Dec have holiday homes next door to each other in sunny Portugal.
3. They bet who would be the first to get married
When they were just 15, Ant and Dec bet £50 who would be the first to get married. Ant was forced to pay Dec the money when he tied the knot in 2006 to Lisa Armstrong.
Dec married Ali Astall in August 2015.
After his divorce from Lisa, Ant re-married in August 2021 when he tied the knot with his girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett.
4. They have life insurance against each other
In the awful event that one of them dies, the other will receive a pay out as they both have life insurance against each other.
5. Ant and Dec bought the rights to Byker Grove
It was the show which kick-started their careers but Ant and Dec reportedly bought the rights to Byker Grove when the production company went bust. Could we see a Byker Grove reunion?
6. Ant and Dec have been sued before
The boys were sued by an American comedian (who also had the name Ant) for using his name during their time in America. Unsurprisingly the allegations of fraud were dismissed!
7. A huge amount of people mix Ant and Dec up
After a poll found that 70% of viewers were unable to tell the boys apart, Dec admitted standing in the same positions is a useful way to help out the public.
The pair now position themselves so that Ant is on the viewer's left, and Dec on the right.
8. Ant and Dec are music stars
Before they became the kings of presenting, Ant and Dec (AKA PJ and Duncan) enjoyed an extensive music career. The pair released sixteen singles and three album including their biggest hit to date 'Let's Get Ready To Rhumble'.
9. Ant and Dec hold a Guinness World Record
In 2019 the boys were rewarded with a Guinness World Record for the most National Television Awards for Best Presenter won consecutively.
In October 2022, Ant and Dec won Best Presenter at the NTAs for the 21st consecutive year, and they kept up tradition in 2023, winning the award again!
10. Ant and Dec both have an OBE
In 2017, both Ant and Dec received an OBE from Prince Charles for their services to broadcasting and entertainment. The boys collected their accolades at Buckingham Palace.
11. Ant and Dec have hosted The BRIT Awards
Ant and Dec first hosted The BRIT Awards way back in 2001, before making a return to the stage in both 2015 and 2016.
12. Ant and Dec are worth millions
Due to their phenomenal careers, it's reported that Ant and Dec's current net worth is estimated to be around £62 million each.
Lend us a tenner lads!
13. Ant and Dec both have phobias
Believe it or not, despite Ant and Dec hosting I'm A Celebrity in the Australian Jungle, both of them have phobias! Ant is scared of spiders and Dec is terrified of birds!
14. Ant and Dec have their name trademarked
Since 2003, the name 'Ant and Dec' has been trademarked in the UK in the category of 'Entertainment services'.
15. Ant and Dec are RELATED!
When taking part in their 2019 documentary Ant and Dec's DNA Journey, the boys discovered the are actually distant cousins!
The popular pair found out they share a S660 DNA marker, meaning they are related in an incredibly distant way.
16. Ant and Dec are REBOOTING Byker Grove
In July 2023, Ant and Dec (or should we say PJ and Duncan) announced they were rebooting series Byker Grove, which originally aired between 1989-2006! The pair confirmed they would be Executive Producers on the show.
Ant and Dec are certainly busy boys this year! As well as their quiz show Limitless Win, Saturday Night Takeaway is expected to run for a number of months, before I'm A Celeb returns later in the year.
The boys also announced last year that they had plans to reboot classic TV show Byker Grove, acting a producers.
The new series of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway will start on Saturday 24th February.
Now read:
Ant and Dec reveal exciting details about 'quite brutal' I'm A Celeb: All Stars
The best comfort TV boxsets to binge watch right now
Byker Grove is getting a reboot with Ant and Dec as the producers