Ant and Dec hit with 29 Ofcom complaints after Saturday Night Takeaway ‘infect the human scum’ joke

ANT And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has been hit with 29 Ofcom complaints over a skit in which humans were infected with an alien virus.

Part five of the Men In Brown sketch saw Paul Hollywood, whose body had been taken over by an alien, reveal that he had the "Universal Collider" and could now infect the whole world.

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"Now we have the Universal Collider we can open up portal zero-zero and give the whole world the squits," he laughed.

Later, after Amanda Holden was infected, she intoned: "Infect the human scum.";

But some viewers at home were not impressed, believing it to be insensitive during a time when the entire world is battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Television watchdog Ofcom confirmed that they received a total of 29 complaints, including 22 relating to the Men In Brown sketch.

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Scenes of people licking their fingers and the perceived treatment of Ant's dog Hurley made up the other seven complaints.

"We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate," an Ofcom spokesperson told .

The ITV variety show usually records live with a studio audience but the ongoing pandemic has forced the show bosses and hosts Ant and Dec to come up with new and creative ways of filming.

Last weekend's episode was partly pre-recorded with the Geordie duo presenting from their individual homes via split-screen.

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The coronvavirus pandemic has forced channels to halt production on TV's biggest shows.

Last Saturday Ant and Dec's show made history by going ahead without a studio audience; it received record viewers of 11million as households across the country tuned in for one of the last remaining live telly shows on the box.

The coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 1,829 while it was revealed Prince William is hoping to join the fight against coronavirus, piloting air ambulances.

He said he wants to "do his bit" on the frontline; the heir to the throne, 37, spent two years flying medics to emergencies in the armed forces before stepping down in 2017.