Saturday Night Takeaway fans react as Ant and Dec retire from the show

The broadcaster has confirmed that Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will be “taking a break” from Saturday night entertainment after the 2024 series.

The award-winning hosts said that hitting the “milestone” of 20 series seemed like the “perfect time to stop for a little while and catch your breath.”

The hit series went on hiatus in 2009 before returning four years later in 2013.

“We love doing Saturday Night Takeaway, but hitting the 20 series milestone seemed like the perfect time to stop for a while and catch our breath,” McPartlin told fans on social media Thursday.

Donnelly added, “We still have a meaningful 20th series to look forward to for now, so we’ll do our best to go out with a bang (for now) in 2024.”

Ant and Dec promise “very special throwbacks” in the new Saturday Night Takeaway series

The award-winning hosts promised “some very special throwbacks” and “exciting news” for their 20th season of Saturday Night Takeaway.

In a video posted to Instagram, they said they were “taking a breather” from the show, which “occupies a huge chunk of our year.”

“Next year in 2024 will be Saturday Night Takeaway’s 20th series and we have some very special throwbacks planned as well as some very exciting new items,” said McPartlin.

Donnelly said: “And we’ve also decided that our 20th series next year will be our last for a while.

“The show is taking up such a big part of our year that we just feel like we need a little breather and the show is going to take a little break.”

“But before that, we still have to plan for the 20th series,” said McPartlin.

Fans rushed to her comments section to express their love for the show and its hosts.

Saturday Night Takeaway was introduced in 2002. (ITV) (Image: ITV)

One viewer shared, “I’m excited for Season 20 but disappointed that there will be a hiatus after that, but that’s understandable!”

“I know planning the show takes up most of your year, so you guys deserve a well-deserved rest and some quality time with your loved ones!”

A second user chimed in: “NO!!!! What am I going to do with my life now?!!!”

While a third posted with a sad emoji, “Looking forward to this on a Saturday night.”

While another fan tweeted, “CAN’T SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY IS MY FAVORITE I SOB.”

Since its launch in 2002, Saturday Night Takeaway has received multiple Bafta and National Television Awards (NTA), including awards for Ant and Dec.

The couple will continue their exclusive collaboration with ITV as the presenters of popular shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win.

Saturday Night Takeaway’s latest series aired in February and attracted 6.4 million viewers, making it ITV1’s biggest nighttime audience of the year.

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s chief executive for media and entertainment, said: “When you think of Saturday night television, you think of Saturday Night Takeaway.”

“Over 20 series, the series has grown into a cultural phenomenon and while we’re excited to see what Ant & Dec have up their sleeves for the 2024 series, we totally understand their desire to pause, take stock and move on to the next.” Incarnation to think about what the show might look like.”