Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have found themselves in hot water after their Saturday Night Takeaway return was slapped with official complaints. The Geordie duo delighted fans with the comeback of their hit ITV show on Saturday night (February 25).
However, they were soon being flooded with messages from upset viewers of the series opener. It came after Ant and Dec introduced the live studio audience and those watching at home to a couple in a restaurant, who were whisked from their date into the studio much to the husband's surprise.
It was soon revealed that his wife was in on the surprise that had actually been going on for months as the couple prepared to welcome their first child together. The hosts explained that they plotted with Amy after she contacted them telling them that her husband, Liam, was a big prankster and she wanted to get him back.
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And after she told them she was three months pregnant, the boys and their team believed they had found the perfect opportunity to for Amy to get her own back. Firstly they tricked her husband Liam by setting up a fake 4D baby scan, using an actress as a sonographer.
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The fake sonographer instructed Liam to talk to his wife's baby bump, with the baby seemingly reacting in response. Rock music was also played to the then-unborn baby boy and on the fake scan it appeared that he was pulling a rock and roll salute hand gesture in response to the sounds.
Liam was then taken to a fake antenatal class where he was constantly pulled up to take part in various exercises, and after their adorable son was born the wind-up continued with a set-up family photoshoot which had Liam being asked to pull silly faces as Ant and Dec watched it all unfold and fed instructions through ear-pieces.
Saturday Night Takeaway viewers flocked to Twitter to complain that the sketch was "in bad taste" and that it was "cruel" to prank Liam on his journey to becoming a dad for the first time.
It has now been revealed that the episode has been hit with 130 Ofcom complaints from unhappy viewers, with the broadcasting watchdog confirming to the Manchester Evening News that 111 of the complaints related to the series of pranks played on a husband throughout his wife’s pregnancy but didn't disclose the reason behind the other 19.
At the end of the sketch Ant and Dec delighted the couple as they announced they were opening a savings account for their son, Finlay, and giving him £1,000 every year until he's 18. And many viewers praised the move. @mlawelshgirl praised: "Aww that’s lovely from ant and dec opening a savers account for that couple’s son a grand every year until the baby’s 18 years old there be £18,000 by then."
@JayHWarne tweeted: "I think that was a brilliant segment and joyful and a lovely surprise at the end." And @FleuritoFaveees gasped: "Wowzers Ant and Dec giving that baby 18k is amazing." The Manchester Evening News contacted ITV for comment after the scenes aired on Saturday Night Takeaway.
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