“Saturday Night Takeaway” is a British television variety show hosted by Ant & Dec. It premiered on ITV in 2002 and has since become one of the most popular shows on British TV.
The show is filmed in front of a live studio audience and features a mix of comedy sketches, musical performances, games, and interviews with celebrity guests. One of the most popular segments of the show is “Ant vs. Dec,” in which the hosts compete against each other in various challenges.
“Saturday Night Takeaway” also includes a number of recurring features, such as “Undercover,” in which the hosts prank celebrities, and “Win the Ads,” in which audience members compete for the chance to win prizes by answering questions.
Ant & Dec have pranked a number of celebrities over the years on their various shows, including “Saturday Night Takeaway.” Here are some examples of celebrities they have pranked:
Simon Cowell: In 2003, the hosts dressed up as dogs and interrupted a meeting between Simon Cowell and a record executive.
Gordon Ramsay: In 2017, Ant & Dec pranked Gordon Ramsay by making him believe he was going to be served his own body parts in a restaurant.
David Beckham: In 2004, the hosts played a prank on David Beckham by convincing him that he was meeting the Queen and was required to wear a ridiculous outfit.
Emma Bunton: In 2016, Ant & Dec tricked Emma Bunton into thinking she was auditioning to be the voice of the speaking clock.
Olly Murs: In 2013, Ant & Dec pranked Olly Murs by setting up a fake office for him to work in, with a variety of ridiculous tasks to complete.
Dermot O’Leary: In 2018, the hosts pranked Dermot O’Leary by making him believe that he was interviewing someone with a very unusual hobby.
They are known for their elaborate and creative pranks, and they often involve convincing the celebrity that they are in a real situation before revealing the truth.
“Win the Ads” is a popular segment on “Saturday Night Takeaway” in which the studio audience competes to win prizes by correctly identifying various products and brands. Over the years, a wide variety of brands have been featured in the segment, including:
Nintendo
Cadbury’s
Walkers
Kellogg’s
Coca-Cola
Marmite
Heinz
John Lewis
British Airways
Just Eat
McDonald’s
eBay
In addition to the studio segments, the show also features pre-recorded segments that are filmed outside of the studio, such as “I’m a Celebrity… Get Out of Me Ear!” in which celebrities are secretly given instructions by the hosts through earpieces.
“I’m a Celebrity… Get Out of Me Ear!” is a popular segment on “Saturday Night Takeaway” in which celebrities are given instructions by Ant & Dec through earpieces while they interact with members of the public or participate in various activities. Here are some examples of celebrities who have taken part in the segment:
Jeremy Kyle: In one episode, Ant & Dec instructed talk show host Jeremy Kyle to give a very specific set of instructions to his personal trainer.
Simon Cowell: The music mogul was instructed to give an outrageous performance during a charity auction.
Peter Andre: Ant & Dec instructed the singer to pose as a cashier at a local shop and playfully mess with customers.
Amanda Holden: The “Britain’s Got Talent” judge was instructed to participate in a fake game show and answer questions in a very unusual way.
Carol Vorderman: The former “Countdown” host was instructed to give a speech at a charity event using ridiculous phrases and odd facial expressions.
David Tennant: The “Doctor Who” actor was told to act out a bizarre script while recording a voiceover for an advertisement.
The show has won numerous awards, including several National Television Awards for Best Entertainment Programme. It has also been praised for its charitable initiatives, with regular segments featuring fundraising efforts for various causes.
“Saturday Night Takeaway” typically airs for several weeks in the spring, with a grand finale episode filmed at a special location. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was temporarily put on hold in 2020 but returned in 2021 with adaptations to comply with social distancing measures, but returns to our screens in full this year on Saturday 25th February from 7pm.