Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway has been one of the most popular Saturday night television shows in the United Kingdom, entertaining families with live pranks, celebrity guests, competitions, live segments, and unexpected surprises. For years, viewers have looked forward to tuning in on a Saturday evening to watch Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly host the variety show together. If you’re wondering when *Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway* typically airs and what the schedule has looked like recently, it’s helpful to look at how ITV has presented the show and what fans can expect in the coming years.
Traditional Scheduling on ITV
When *Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway* is in season, it has traditionally been broadcast on Saturday evenings on ITV, making it part of weekend entertainment for many viewers. The series usually airs in the late winter or early spring, often beginning in late February and running for several weeks on Saturday nights. For example, recent series have started on a Saturday at around 7pm, providing a prime Saturday night time slot for viewers to enjoy the show together as a family. This prime-time scheduling reflects the show’s broad appeal and its status as a weekend highlight for many television audiences.
Typical Air Time
Saturday Night Takeaway is designed as a Saturday evening show, and broadcasts have traditionally started at approximately 7pm local UK time. Episodes usually run for about 90 minutes, filled with entertainment segments, games, audience participation, and surprises that make each episode feel unique and engaging. This timing allows viewers to settle in during the early evening and enjoy the variety show format, making it a staple of weekend viewing.
Recent Series Air Dates
The most recent series of *Saturday Night Takeaway* aired in 2024 as the twentieth overall series of the show. It began in late February and continued through to mid-April, with weekly episodes broadcast on ITV on Saturday evenings. Episodes from the 20th series aired on consecutive Saturdays, with the final episode of that series shown in April 2024.
Season 20 Schedule
- Episode 1 – Saturday, 24 February 2024
- Episode 2 – Saturday, 2 March 2024
- Episode 3 – Saturday, 9 March 2024
- Episode 4 – Saturday, 23 March 2024
- Episode 5 – Saturday, 30 March 2024
- Episode 6 – Saturday, 6 April 2024
- Episode 7 – Saturday, 13 April 2024
These broadcast dates give an example of how the show’s schedule was structured for its latest season, with episodes spread across multiple weeks on Saturdays.
Hiatus and Future Plans
After its 20th series in 2024, the show’s hosts Ant and Dec announced that *Saturday Night Takeaway* would be taking a break. The duo have confirmed that after such a long run, including earlier pauses and returns, they wanted to step back and allow the show to rest. While it is on hiatus and not currently scheduled to return in the same format immediately, fans have been hopeful that the beloved variety show could make a comeback in the future.
Break Announcement
According to ITV and statements from Ant and Dec, the break was planned after the 20th series, giving them a chance to recharge and focus on other projects. The show previously took a break in 2009 before returning in 2013, showing that *Saturday Night Takeaway* has had successful comebacks in the past. The announcement in 2023 confirmed that the 2024 run would be a significant milestone and might be the last for a while, giving fans a spectacular final set of episodes.
Watching Ant and Dec on ITV
While *Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway* is not currently airing weekly due to the break, Ant and Dec continue to appear on ITV in other roles hosting major shows such as *I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!*, *Britain’s Got Talent*, and *Limitless Win*. These appearances keep them regularly in viewers’ screens even when *Saturday Night Takeaway* is not in season.
Other ITV Appearances
- I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – Ant & Dec host the popular reality series annually.
- Britain’s Got Talent – The duo co-host this major talent competition on ITV.
- Limitless Win – A game show hosted by Ant & Dec, also part of their regular TV lineup.
These shows ensure that even during seasons when *Saturday Night Takeaway* is not airing, fans can still enjoy Ant and Dec on television.
Traditionally, *Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway* airs on Saturday evenings in the United Kingdom around 7pm on ITV, providing viewers with lively variety entertainment and interactive segments. The show’s latest 20th series ran from February to April 2024, after which the show went on hiatus. While not currently scheduled for weekly broadcast due to this break, *Saturday Night Takeaway* remains a beloved part of Saturday night TV history in the UK. Viewers can enjoy Ant and Dec on other ITV shows in the interim, and fans continue to hold out hope that the iconic Saturday night staple will return someday.