Declan Donnelly looks nervous at rehearsal for first ever Saturday Night Takeaway without Ant McPartlin
DECLAN Donnelly looked nervous as he emerged from Saturday Night Takeaway rehearsals today.
The 42-year-old is preparing to present solo tomorrow night after his on-screen partner Ant McPartlin was charged with drink-driving.
Dec had earlier told fans he was back to work by tweeting: “Back in studio today preparing your #SaturdayNightTakeaway for tomorrow night. Have a great Good Friday! D x.”
Ant is currently in rehab after he was charged with drink-driving following a collision earlier on March 18.
ITV bosses remain locked in crisis talks with Dec and show producers about how to address his absence from the show on air.
Not surprisingly Dec was inundated with support from his followers, who wished him well ahead of the show.
One said: "Loads of Love Dec, will be tuning in, we are all with you xxxx."
Another said: "Have a great day Dec! Good luck for tomorrow! We love you and we'll never leave you and Ant ever!!!!"
Meanwhile fans have been treated to the first peak of Saturday Night Takeaway’s set for the live final.
Images from the Universal Resort in Orlando, Florida, show a stage being erected in front of the Hard Rock café in the park.
A red, blue and gold bit of staging has also been set up ready for the show next weekend, which will see Dec Donnelly take the reins without Ant McPartlin for the first time.
The 42-year-old star will be without his TV partner, also 42, despite vowing never to go on stage without the other.
Dec will be joined by Scarlett Moffatt and Stephen Mulhorn for the grand finale instead as he returns to TV for the first episode with Ant.
While Scarlett, 27, and Stephen, 40, usually play smaller roles in the show, reports the pair will play a much bigger part this week in Ant's absence.
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An ITV source told the outlet viewers can expect to see them "in the audience giving away places on the plane to Orlando, Florida" for the series finale next week - a role Ant usually fulfils.
The End of the Show Show will also be more of an "ensemble" piece, according to the insider, featuring Paloma Faith.
The outlet added there will be no undercover pranks or the popular 'I'm a Celebrity Get Out of Me Ear' segment, but the ITV source claimed neither were set to feature in this week's episode anyway, even if Ant had still been on-screen with Dec.
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