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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Vicki Newman

Inside Saturday Night Takeaway: Backstage, blunders, complaints and exposed love rat

Saturday Night Takeaway has been a staple on our TVs since its launch way back in 2002.

It's something Ant and Dec fans look forward to every single year, but unfortunately live TV doesn't always go to plan.

The hit ITV show - hosted by Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly - has had more than its fair share of blunders, audience-upsetting moments and medical mishaps.

And what's it really like behind the scenes as the hosts go live for an hour and a half across the nation?

Ahead of the show's return tomorrow night, we take a deep dive into its history and a peek behind the scenes...

Backstage secrets

Last year, Ant and Dec wowed fans by taking them on a behind-the-scenes tour before they went on the air.

Ant and Dec have taken fans behind the scenes before (Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX)

As they showed fans around the dressing rooms and green room where celebrity guests relax and get ready for the show, Ant cheekily pretended he was going to ruin the show by pulling wires out of the rig backstage.

And Dec panicked Ant as he panned the camera to the lights hanging above his head and asked what he'd do if one fell on his head during the show.

They also showed fans the 'prompt area' that's never seen on the show - the spot where they stand during commercial breaks to organise what's coming up next.

The pair also gave fans a look inside the guest announcer's booth, where a famous face stands every show to provide links between segments.

Fans might not know that the show's live audience members actually have to arrive super early, usually being brought into the studio at 4.30pm.

They don't have to take their seats straight away though, they are actually taken to a waiting room where they're offered food and drinks while they wait - and also pose for those whacky pictures that flash up on the big screen.

Things can sometimes go wrong (ITV)

Audience members are also asked to dress up for the show, as if they were off out for a Saturday night on the town.

Then when the show comes to a close, Ant and Dec always thank the audience before heading off.

Blunders

In 2020, Ant and Dec were left horrified as the live audience starting laughing at the worst possible moment.

They were giving a wonderful surprise to couple Petra and Simon Williams, who were queuing up outside the studio.

They'd been told the audience was full but that they might get seats if they hung around.

"What they don't know is that we've actually saved two seats for them because we're about to give them the surprise of their life," Ant said.

They were confused when the audience laughed (ITV)

Dec added: "That's because they're part of an extraordinary family. They live up in the north east and they've got three lovely kids."

Ant continued: "Tragically three years ago they lost their daughter Darcey-Lee when she was just nine and a half weeks old."

But Dec looked stunned as the audience burst out laughing.

Looking behind them at the big screen, they realised that Simon was helping Petra pick something out of her teeth.

It was later revealed that Bellway had bought the couple a house, but fans were still cringing at the awkward moment.

In 2021, a sound blunder left viewers completely baffled.

Viewers couldn't hear Mo (ITV)

Guest announcer Mo Gilligan had been completely drowned out as he was telling fans what was coming up after the break.

And in 2020, Dec suffered a funny on-air blunder as he forgot which show he was actually presenting, telling fans: "We'll be back next Saturday with, er, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! See you next week everybody!"

That same year, Ant faced getting in trouble with bosses after grabbing one of the cameras before throwing it and smashing it.

He saw the funny side, saying: "It just clips back together! Just slip it in and twist it, jam it..."

Loverat exposed on air

In 2018, loverat Daniel Gundry was exposed as a bigamist when he took part in a surprise wedding between another couple on the show.

His wife Helen had been watching the show at home with her son and daughter when she saw him on screen with another woman, Susan Brooker.

Daniel Gundry, in glasses, on Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV)

The woman was found out to be his wife, despite him telling Helen just days earlier that he was flying to Dubai for work.

Helen reported her husband to the police, accusing him of bigamy.

He initially denied being married to Ms Booker, but later admitted bigamy. He was sentenced to six months behind bars and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 for causing both women "embarrassment, shame and humiliation".

Daniel and Helen had married in 1998 but lived apart for years before he told her he wanted to get back together.

They agreed to give it another go, but she had no idea that he'd married Ms Booker in the meantime.

Both women made complaints to police, and the court was told he had married Ms Booker by forging documents.

Upsetting audiences

In 2020, ITV apologised to audiences after a performance from Anne-Marie sparked complaints.

People were unhappy that the presenters wore bandanas featuring the Japanese Rising Sun flag as she sang her song Ciao Adios.

ITV apologised over Ant and Dec's costumes (Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX)

The Rising Sun flag is seen by some as a symbol of the country's imperialist past.

After the show, Anne-Marie apologised, writing on Twitter : "I sincerely apologise to all those who were affected and hurt by my appearance last night on a UK TV.

"I want you to know I had nothing to do with the costumes on this sketch.

"Unfortunately, education on this part of the history wasn't done and I am also hurt by the pain this signifies for so many people.

"Our team is talking to the TV station, working on taking down the footage, so that it does not cause any more pain."

An ITV spokesman said: "We apologise for any offence caused during the End of the Show Show by the costumes worn.

"This was clearly unintended and we have taken steps to re-edit that part of the episode for the Hub and for repeat broadcasts."

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom was sent complaints from viewers in 2021 after the F-word was broadcast on the show.

It happened when two women were surprised during a Magic Mike Live show when their husbands took to the stage.

When they were brought on stage by Stephen Mulhern, one of the women said: "I thought f**k me, is that my husband?"

Stephen immediately apologised and Dec later blamed the "two hunky men and an excitable audience" for her profanity.

Also in 2021, Ofcom received complaints that Ant and Dec's jokes were "too rude".

The same show was also complained about by fans who didn't appreciate jokes about Dec's height.

Dec hosts alone

In 2018, Dec received a standing ovation from the audience after hosting the show alone for the first time ever.

He presented solo after Ant took time away from the spotlight to deal with his issues following his drink-driving conviction.

Dec was praised for continuing on, and while he didn't go into any details about Dec's absence, he did made a joke about presenting alone.

Romance rumours

In 2018, Scarlett Moffatt spoke out after speculation of a romance between her and Ant.

Rumours had been swirling that she was hooking up with Ant following his split from ex-wife Lisa Armstrong after fans spotted that she had a picture of them together on her bedside table.

She said that while she was lucky to be working with Ant, their relationship was purely professional.

Scarlett had met Ant and Dec during her winning stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! before landing a spot on SNT.

Ant's reps also denied the claims at the time.

Medical mishaps

In 2021, Ant confessed that he almost passed out while filming an undercover prank for the show.

He was dressed in a giant koala costume to pull a prank on long-time friend Cat Deeley, who thought she was filming a Bedtime Story for CBeebies.

Scarlett with Ant and Dec (Instagram)

Dec was pretending to be a producer who kept telling the koala off before a large fire started behind Cat and seemingly trapped the koala against the wall.

Ant said he came close to passing out while standing next to the fire in the heavy suit.

Back in 2018, Ant and Dec were involved in a monster truck crash while rehearsing for an Ant v Dec segment.

Both presenters veered off course and crashed into giant shipping containers.

Dec said: "We had to give it a go earlier and we both crashed quite badly. It’s big and dangerous. It’s gone really badly so far."

And Ant joked: "Each truck costs £100,000 so no more crashes!"

That same year, Dec came close to injuring himself when he almost took a tumble off the stage during the live finale at Universal Studios in Florida.

He was heard shouting "Oh God" before collecting himself and carrying on like a true professional.

* Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway returns to ITV tomorrow at 7pm

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