Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mia O'Hare

Ant and Dec refused to do 'cruel' Saturday Night Takeaway pranks which 'crossed a line'

Ant and Dec have admitted they've refused to do things on Saturday Night Takeaway after producers "crossed the line".

The presenting duo also revealed they think some segments have been “a bit cruel”.

The Geordie pair returned to screens on Saturday 25 February with their hit ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway.

The show sees Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly present hilarious sketches, play pranks on celebrity guests and invite the audience members to participate in games.

Yet, the pair have revealed even some things were too much for them and had to turn them down.

Ant and Dec joined Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp where they said they felt nervous pranking Gordon Ramsay and Jeremy Clarkson, as Gordon “vows” to get back at them.

Ant and Dec chatted to Roman Kemp about working on Saturday Night Takeaway (Capital)

Roman asked the duo if there are any sketches producers have asked them to do but refused.

Ant said: "Oh yeah!"

Roman quickly replied: "What're mainly the ones that you guys kind of refuse to do. Is there any like is there like a certain category of things?"

Dec explained: "Umm... no, I wouldn't say a category. But I think sometimes we sit down and they go 'we thought maybe you could do this' and we go 'no, I think that's crossing the line'.

The pair say some proposed pranks would 'cross the line' (Capital)
They said some pranks have been 'a bit cruel' (Capital)

"Especially when we do like hidden camera stuff on celebs. You kind of go 'that’s a bit cruel'."

Ant and Dec also revealed Alison Hammond nearly ruined the latest episode of Saturday Night Takeaway as they “couldn't get her past reception because she was too scared” at the haunted house.

Dec said: "I mean, as you probably saw, she refused to stay in the hotel. We'd rigged the whole place. And we had hidden cameras everywhere. We couldn't get her past reception because she was too scared.

Ant and Dec joined Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, Chris Stark and Sian Welby (Capital)

"You know, we had the haunted hotel and she went in, took a look at it and went "I'm not staying here", got back in the car, and was like 'take me home'. The cab driver wasn't in on it at all. So he's like 'yeah, no problem'."

Ant added: "We had to ring the cab firm and then get another job booked for the driver so he would just drive off."

This series of the popular Saturday night show has already attracted Ofcom complaints.

Saturday Night Takeaway returned to ITV last weekend - but not everyone was impressed (ITV)

Disappointed viewers complained to the broadcasting regulator over a prank involving a pregnant woman which divided fans.

Viewers called the show 'distasteful', as hosts Ant and Declan played a prank on a first-time dad by creating fake footage of the 4D scan of the baby.

Ofcom's latest report notes 111 viewers have lodged complaints "related to the series of pranks played on a husband throughout his wife’s pregnancy."

ITV and presenters Ant and Dec are yet to respond to the backlash to the divisive prank.

Listen to Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, weekdays from 6am – 10am across the UK and on Global Player.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.