Devastated Saturday Night Takeaway fans pay tribute with their favourite clips after show is cancelled
SATURDAY Night Takeaway viewers have shared their favourite clips from the show after being left devastated when they realised tonight's show has been cancelled.
ITV bosses decided to cancel tonight's broadcast after Ant McPartlin was charged with drink-driving earlier this week.
Some viewers thought the show was still on tonight despite an announcement by ITV earlier this week that it will take a break this weekend before returning next week with Declan Donnelly presenting the show on his own.
Fans of the show, which is usually broadcast from 7pm to 8.30pm on Saturday evenings, took to Twitter to share their confusion.
One wrote: "What? @ITV where is @itvtakeaway ?!?! #Saturdaynighttakeaway".
Another said: "Anyone know why #SaturdayNightTakeaway ain't on ?".
However, despite their disappointment loyal fans started a Twitter campaign to encourage everyone to to share their favourite clips from the series with the hashtag #FanMadeSnt.
Viewers shared clips of The Make 'Em Laugh game with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as well videos of Little Ant and Dec.
Another fan shared their performance of Oliver and the time they put on their own Shakespeare play.
The superfan behind the campaign said: "It's even more important that we keep our support up and show the boys how much we love and appreciate them".
It was announced earlier this week that tonight's Saturday Night Takeaway would be cancelled after Ant's publicist revealed he would be going back to rehab.
An ITV spokesperson added: “ITV has taken a joint decision with Ant and Dec’s team not to broadcast Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend."
Shortly afterwards fans mocked the channel for apparently scheduling Fast And Furious 5 in its place.
However, The Voice was bumped up to the 7pm slot before a repeat of Keith Lemon's Through the Keyhole at 9pm and the movie will broadcast after that as scheduled.
Dec was reported yesterday to be in "crisis talks" with ITV over how best to deal with Ant McPartlin's absence the remaining two episodes of the series.
Both sides are deciding if and how to mention Ant who is seeking treatment in rehab following his drink-drive charge.
A source told “Takeaway is all about fun and laughter so they can’t dwell on bad news, but it will be odd if they don’t reference Ant and his issues.
“Dec will want to pay tribute to his pal in some way, but getting the balance right is crucial.
"Fans will love to hear how Ant is getting on as well.”
While there is no episode tonight, the final two episodes will go ahead with Dec presenting the show alone.
Ant has reportedly given Dec his blessing to go it alone for the first time in their 30 year career together following his arrest.
In a statement released on the pair’s split official Twitter account, Dec wrote: "Whilst I never thought I'd be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we've decided that the remaining two shows of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead.
"We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honour that.
"Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series. Dec x."
Dec will get support from his usual co-hosts Stephen Mulhern or Scarlett Moffatt who will appear in the show's smaller segments as usual.
- The final shows are being screened on March 31 and April 7 at 7pm.
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