Ant and Dec fans convinced they know why duo are taking step back from Saturday Night Takeaway

After Ant and Dec announced they were taking a break from Saturday Night Takeaway, fans now think they know the reason why.

The TV personalities have hosted the light-hearted entertainment show for over 20 years, with over 130 episodes across 19 seasons.

Though the co-hosts insist they are simply taking ‘a breather’, some viewers suspect the pair might be moving to a new show.

This is despite the latest series of Saturday Night Takeaway pulling a staggering 6.4 million viewers - making it the biggest entertainment show in the UK.

It offered fan-favourite segments like 'Win the Ads', as well as celeb guests and musical perfomances, making it the perfect weekend watch.

However, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced that they were stepping away from the series yesterday (19 May) in an Instagram video.

During the short clip, they told fans: “You see, in 2024 it will be our 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway, and we’ve got some very special look-backs planned, as well as some very exciting new items.

"And we’ve also decided that our 20th series next year will be our last one for a little while.

"The show takes up such a lot of our year, we just feel we need a little bit of a breather and that the show is going to take a bit of a rest."

Though the national treasures may have broken fans’ hearts with the news, some think they’ve cracked the code as to why the Geordie duo have are taking a step back.

ITV

Taking to Twitter, many have theorised that they might be replacing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning - following their alleged ongoing feud.

While neither Ant nor Dec nor ITV have confirmed this, it hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about the timing of the announcement.

One fan wrote: “Summit fishy going on here. They prob This Morning replacements. Lol.”

Another added: “They’re taking over from Phil and Holly on This Morning so won’t have time to make Takeaway anymore.”

A third even responded: “It's taking a break because they're replacing Philip and Holly!”

Some viewers were pretty impressed with the possible casting, though.

In fact, one fan even wrote: “There is nothing I would love more than @antanddec to present one episode of @thismorning.”

Clearly, someone needs to get their agent on the phone!

Topics: Ant and Dec, Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Celebrity, TV and Film, This Morning

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

@ksidnell