Viewers have called out Stephen Mulhern after he let slip a behind-the-scenes secret on Saturday Night Takeaway- after a near-flashing incident on the show. The TV star was back on the ITV entertainment show on Saturday night (March 25) for another round of Ant versus Dec.
The segment sees the show's hosts, Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, take on various bonkers challenges before the overall winner is decided at the end of the series. During the latest round, viewers saw the loser of this week's Ant vs Dec quiz having to take a plunge in a freezing ice bath.
The Geordie duo could be seen in harnesses above their own baths with each incorrect answer seeing them lowered further down until one was plunged into the freezing temperatures live on air. Dec managed to win, leaving Ant in the icy waters as he remained above his bath in a harness.
READ MORE: ITV Saturday Night Takeaway viewers spot concerned Ant's warning after they were left 'worried'
But Catchphrase and In For a Penny host Stephen then had Dec yelling "don't you dare, don't you dare!" as he decided to drop him too. Viewers then flocked to Twitter to say it was TV gold as they cried tears of laughter.
And it may have been some kind of pay back as earlier in the show, as he introduced the head-to-head quiz, Ant cheekily took it upon himself to dunk Stephen under the water after the 45-year-old was dragged out in a bathtub, wearing nothing but a fake muscular suit and a pink fluffy dressing gown.
But Ant didn't realise that when Stephen went underwater, his bare legs shot up into the air, nearly flashing the live audience. Following the incident, one viewer tweeted: "Sure I just saw more of Stephen Mulhern than I’d have liked then". Another said: "Did @StephenMulhern just show millions of #SaturdayNightTakeaway viewers his family jewels @itvtakeaway @antanddec."
Stephen hase since brushed his near-miss aside and shared a look at rehearsals for Saturday night's show as he claimed Ant and Dec didn't know what would happen for being in front of the live audience and millions of viewers. Sharing a snap on Instagram and Twitter of the Ant vs Dec segment, he wrote: "Behind the scenes! When we rehearse Ant vs Dec, we have members of the team try it, so the boys only ever get see it for the first time live on the show."
The image showed two members of the Takeaway team in the harnesses where viewers watched Ant and Dec plunged into the ice baths. However, their baths were empty. But fans were quick to point out a problem after remarks made by Dec when he thought he was free from being dunked on the live show.
@e.drizzle said: "I’ve got to ask… if they only see it on the day, why did Dec say he’s had sleepless nights over this one for ages?" @sue.galley.98 echoed: "Didn't Dec said he had been losing sleep.ovrr this challenge?" @shirley.anne.x wrote: "Considering Dec said he's had nightmares about it... me thinks he knew."
@combatbarbie43 commented: "So do they know the task before the show bcoz Dec said his been dreading this all week…"@Dancing50216871 tweeted: "But do they know what the challenges are as dec said ‘I’ve had sleepless nights about this one’." @Hellie9 added: "Except that Dec spoilt it by saying he’d had sleepless nights over it…."
But one viewer was quick to suggest: "Maybe they know what the challenge is but they just don't do the rehearsal?" Others, however, had a more pressing question. @gmac1504 said: "This was so funny! How much trouble were you really in with Dec?? ……Think Ant would have your back tho!"
@jennijustjenni19 asked: "Did you get into much trouble? it was hilarious!" @MullersAngels2 echoed: "You were a naughty boy last night but it was hilarious! Did you get in much trouble."
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