Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway viewers are left devastated as current series ends

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway viewers were left devastated as the current series came to an end.

The hit ITV show made a triumphant return in February amid the Covid crisis with the Geordie duo, both aged 45, admitting it was going to be a ‘very different’ season.

And Ant and Dec made sure the current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo Farah, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan and Jon Courtenay – to name a few. 

Bidding farewell to viewers at the end of the show after a hilarious performance with Britain’s Got Talent winner Jon, 47, where they summarised the 2021 series, Ant said: ‘It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to bring you Takeaway every Saturday night.’  

Sad: Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway viewers were left devastated as the current series came to an end

The final comes after ITV revealed on Tuesday that the programme has raked in a hugely impressive 8.5 million viewers across the show. 

Starting the show, star guest announcer Mo admitted he was ‘stoked’ to be on the show and joked that he was going to introduce Dec first as the star is ‘sick of being introduced’ second before David Guetta gave a virtual DJ set. 

Saturday Night Takeaway then showed a sweet segment where guests Neil and Lorraine, who run the online quiz The Virtual Tavern, were surprised on air.

The duo then had to take part in a quiz as they won prizes for themselves and the members of their online community.

Amazing: The hit ITV show made a triumphant return in February amid the Covid crisis with the Geordie duo, both aged 45, admitting it was going to be a 'very different' season

Amazing: The hit ITV show made a triumphant return in February amid the Covid crisis with the Geordie duo, both aged 45, admitting it was going to be a ‘very different’ season

Star-studded: And Ant and Dec made sure the current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo Farah, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan - pictured, and Jon Courtenay

Star-studded: And Ant and Dec made sure the current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo Farah, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan – pictured, and Jon Courtenay

Amazing: Bidding farewell to viewers at the end of the show after a hilarious performance with Britain's Got Talent winner Jon, 47, where they summarised the 2021 series, Ant said: 'It's been a privilege and a pleasure to bring you Takeaway every Saturday night.'

Amazing: Bidding farewell to viewers at the end of the show after a hilarious performance with Britain’s Got Talent winner Jon, 47, where they summarised the 2021 series, Ant said: ‘It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to bring you Takeaway every Saturday night.’

During the quiz, Lorraine, who is a superfan of Stephen Mulhern, was surprised by the presenter as he quipped: ‘Lorraine, you’re not dreaming, you’re in the same room as Stephen Mulhern. 

‘I would say you could touch me… but Covid rules are Covid rules.’

While Ant hilariously joked about Stephen: ‘The only person on telly more than him is Professor Chris Whitty!’

Neil and Lorraine then had a surprise appearance from singer Fleur East where she sang her hit single Sax, and they had to finish the lyrics. 

Funny: Starting the show, star guest announcer Mo admitted he was 'stoked' to be on the show and joked that he was going to introduce Dec first as the star is 'sick of being introduced' second

Funny: Starting the show, star guest announcer Mo admitted he was ‘stoked’ to be on the show and joked that he was going to introduce Dec first as the star is ‘sick of being introduced’ second 

Cool: David Guetta then gave a virtual DJ set during the final episode

Cool: David Guetta then gave a virtual DJ set during the final episode 

The duo succeeded and were awarded at the end of the quiz with their own The Virtual Tavern bus that they can tour with.

Next up on the show was Ant vs. Dec where presenter Stephen returned and raised eyebrows with his gold trophy costume, which left fans in hysterics.

Poking fun at his outfit, Ant joked: ‘What’s that little knob on your head?’ to which Stephen quipped: ‘You what?’

One fan tweeted: ‘Fair play to Stephen Mulhern’s commitment to showbiz in that trophy costume [crying laughing emojis] #SaturdayNightTakeaway @antanddec.’ 

Sweet: Saturday Night Takeaway then showed a sweet segment where guests Neil and Lorraine, who run the online quiz The Virtual Tavern, were surprised on air

Sweet: Saturday Night Takeaway then showed a sweet segment where guests Neil and Lorraine, who run the online quiz The Virtual Tavern, were surprised on air 

Hilarious: During the quiz, Lorraine, who is a superfan of Stephen Mulhern, was surprised by the presenter as he quipped: 'Lorraine, you're not dreaming, you're in the same room as Stephen Mulhern.'

Hilarious: During the quiz, Lorraine, who is a superfan of Stephen Mulhern, was surprised by the presenter as he quipped: ‘Lorraine, you’re not dreaming, you’re in the same room as Stephen Mulhern.’ 

Joker: While Ant hilariously joked about Stephen: 'The only person on telly more than him is Professor Chris Whitty!'

Joker: While Ant hilariously joked about Stephen: ‘The only person on telly more than him is Professor Chris Whitty!’

While a different account added: ‘Seeing Stephen Mulhern dress up in ridiculous outfits on Saturday night takeaway is the highlight of the week #SaturdayNightTakeaway’ followed by crying laughing emojis.    

After doing several competitive challenges, which included rolling balls through a fire ring to land on a target, Ant was crowned the winner.

Next up was the Double Trouble segment, where clones of Ant and Dec go rogue, it featured guest appearances from Strictly 2020 winner Bill Bailey and This Morning star Alison Hammond.  

The show took a poignant turn when Ant and Dec paid tribute to ITV’s mental health campaign Britain Get Talking.

Funny: Stephen pictured

TV appearance: Professor Chris Whitty pictured

Funny: Stephen, left, and Professor Chris Whitty, right 

Amazing: Neil and Lorraine then had a surprise appearance from singer Fleur East where she sang her hit single Sax, and they had to finish the lyrics

Amazing: Neil and Lorraine then had a surprise appearance from singer Fleur East where she sang her hit single Sax, and they had to finish the lyrics

Wow: The duo succeeded and were awarded at the end of the quiz with their own The Virtual Tavern bus that they can tour with

Wow: The duo succeeded and were awarded at the end of the quiz with their own The Virtual Tavern bus that they can tour with

Highlighting the importance of conversations and proper heart-to-hearts, the Geordie duo had a conversation with guest Mo Farah entirely by text over phone.

Realising it would be better of if they ‘just talked’, Ant and Dec highlighted that there is currently a mental health emergency amid the pandemic and it is important to speak over the phone or socially-distanced in person. 

The presenters, who have supported Britain Get Talking since they launched it in 2019, said: ‘We are really proud to support the Britain Get Talking campaign which has already encouraged millions of people to connect. 

‘This latest part of the campaign is a reminder to think about, not just how much we’re chatting, but what kind of conversations they are. After the year everyone’s had, the message of Britain Get Talking couldn’t be more important.’

Erm...: Next up on the show was Ant vs. Dec where presenter Stephen returned and raised eyebrows with his gold trophy costume, which left fans in hysterics

Erm…: Next up on the show was Ant vs. Dec where presenter Stephen returned and raised eyebrows with his gold trophy costume, which left fans in hysterics

Say what? Poking fun at his outfit, Ant joked: 'What's that little knob on your head?' to which Stephen quipped: 'You what?'

Say what? Poking fun at his outfit, Ant joked: ‘What’s that little knob on your head?’ to which Stephen quipped: ‘You what?’

Winner! After doing several competitive challenges, which included rolling balls through a fire ring to land on a target, Ant was crowned the winner

Winner! After doing several competitive challenges, which included rolling balls through a fire ring to land on a target, Ant was crowned the winner

Ant and Dec then showed Mo’s hilarious participation in their Get Out Of Me Ear sketch where he had to lie down in an ice bath while giving a tour of his bathroom to unbeknownst guests.

The popular Saturday Night Takeaway segment follows a series of celebrities as they are instructed to carry out often embarrassing tasks, which are instructed by the presenters through an ear piece.

The end of the show ended with an amazing performance with Britain’s Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay, who Ant and Dec awarded with the golden buzzer during his audition last year.

Writing a hilarious summary of the 2021 series, which featured appearances from standout guests and celebrities, the presenters sung along with Jon as they bid viewers farewell for now.

At the end of the performance, Dec said: ‘That’s it for tonight and for the series, we want to say thank you for all of our guests.’

While Ant added: ‘Thanks to go all of our virtual audience and to you lot at home for watching… it’s been a privilege and a pleasure to bring you Takeaway every Saturday night.’  

Ahead of the show’s return in February, Ant and Dec gave fans a glimpse at the ‘very different’ Saturday Night Takeaway studio. 

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

Next up was the Double Trouble segment, where clones of Ant and Dec go rogue

Next up was the Double Trouble segment, where clones of Ant and Dec go rogue

Star-studded: It featured guest appearances from Strictly 2020 winner Bill Bailey and This Morning star Alison Hammond

Star-studded: It featured guest appearances from Strictly 2020 winner Bill Bailey and This Morning star Alison Hammond

Star-studded: It featured guest appearances from Strictly 2020 winner Bill Bailey and This Morning star Alison Hammond 

Important: The show took a poignant turn when Ant and Dec paid tribute to ITV's mental health campaign Britain Get Talking

Important: The show took a poignant turn when Ant and Dec paid tribute to ITV’s mental health campaign Britain Get Talking

Text: Highlighting the importance of conversations and proper heart-to-hearts, the Geordie duo had a conversation with guest Mo Farah entirely by text over phone

Text: Highlighting the importance of conversations and proper heart-to-hearts, the Geordie duo had a conversation with guest Mo Farah entirely by text over phone 

Ant and Dec spoke about the changes to the Takeaway studio during an appearance on 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.

‘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.’

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

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.