Some viewers of Ant and Dec's prime time Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV have been left angered at what they called a "disgusting" prank. On last night's show (February 25), the popular duo disclosed that they had been following a young couple for a year, including during prenatal scans for their first child.
During the segment, husband Liam, unaware he was being watched on camera, went to a "4D scan clinic" with his wife Amy, who was in on the "joke" with the show's hosts. However, the clinic was a fake.
With the couple watching in the studio, presenter Dec said: "Last summer, Amy told us she was three months pregnant. All parents know one of the most exciting moments of the pregnancy journey is when you go for a scan and you get to see your baby."
Ant added: "And just four weeks later, you went for a state-of-the-art 4D scan, didn't you?" Liam replied: "Yeah," before Dec said: "No you didn't Liam, because the whole thing was fake and was set up by us."
Fans of the ITV show took to Twitter to express their disappointment in the choice of prank, Devon Live reported. Some viewers criticised it as "distasteful", while others warned of a backlash following the show. @petergmon said: "That has got to be the worst television I've ever seen as yous call it Saturday entertainment. Please think of all the beautiful families that never got to that stage. Pure sick and definitely not entertainment #SaturdayNightTakeaway."
@Alice_M_music added: "@itvtakeaway This prank is too far! So people would dream to see their unborn child or have lost their baby or had a miscarriage. #SaturdayNightTakeaway this could trigger so many people tonight. Childbirth and having a baby is not a joke!"
@DanDan_1979 put: "Let’s hope this is not a sign of things to come #SaturdayNightTakeaway. Can see a huge backlash with this!"
@dawnlharrison wrote: "Whoever signed this prank off needs to be fired. #SaturdayNightTakeaway don't get it, not very tasteful."
@RachaelStone15 tweeted: "How can anyone think messing with what should be a very special time during pregnancy is funny. Poor show Ant and Dec! #SaturdayNightTakeaway."
Chloe Marie said: "Am I the only one who finds pranking an expectant parents' scan or anything to do with pregnancy, extremely inappropriate? I am all for a laugh but not at this expense. What if things had gone the other way? Not cool."
@mikelavelle93 agreed: "Don’t want to come across as sounding dull but that scan prank seems a bit in poor taste #SaturdayNightTakeaway."
Beverley Elizabeth summed up her feelings in one word: "Disgusting." And Caroline Skerten said: "I don’t usually agree but what would have happened if she lost the baby? He would have thought it was a real scan! Not nice to watch tonight."
Nicola Dines wrote: "Usually love these and two and find them funny, but this so called 'prank'? Nah. Not nice."
While some Devon Live readers agreed, others sympathised with Ant and Dec, concluding that the prank was fine because Amy had agreed to it. Daniel Mark White commented: "People like to get offended by everything." Mark Darky Rowe put: "Wife was happy, so stop being such snowflakes."
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Paulyne Morgan added: "His wife asked them. She knows her husband. End of." Lisa Fricker said: "Seriously? The wife was in on it. They all found it amusing. So should no scan photos, fake or otherwise, be shown on TV in case it triggers people?"
Paul Neale commented: "I’m sure ITV wouldn’t've shown the VT if anything went wrong. Not cool that the world can’t have fun. Snowflakes."
David Lacey wrote: "Oh god really?? Lighten up people." Scott Phillips stated: "Seriously, get a grip."
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