Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway made quite the comeback with its hallmark ‘happiest ninety minutes of the week’, as the high-profile presenters sent fans into a frenzy with their Drag Race routine.
The hosting duo, both 46, joined RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winners The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Krystal Versace for the ‘end of the show show,’ performing We Werk Together in aid of The Trussell Trust – who support a network of food banks across the UK.
The best friends claimed earlier in the proceedings that it would be the first time in the show’s history they wouldn’t be starring in the final instalment – but later left mouths agape as they hit the stage in statement ensembles and full faces of makeup.
Saturday Night Takeaway is BACK! Ant and Dec sent fans into a frenzy with Drag Race routine while Stephen Mulhern delivered a hilarious Donald Trump impression as show returned with a live audience
ITV viewers flocked to Twitter in excitement, with one impressed fan tweeting: ‘They looked better than the actual drag queens!’
Others were also quick to heap praise onto the spectacular finale, writing comments such as: ‘What an end of the show show!’ and, ‘Ant and Dec in drag is unbelievable. That makeup is incredible.’
This is the first time the show has welcomed back a live audience in two years since last series’ proceedings went virtual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic – and both Ant and Dec were taken-aback at the roaring crowd’s enthusiasm on their return.
Transformation: The hosting duo, both 46, joined RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winners The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Krystal Versace for the ‘end of the show show,’ performing We Werk Together in aid of The Trussell Trust
Ta-dah! The best friends claimed earlier in the proceedings that it would be the first time in the show’s history they wouldn’t be starring in the final instalment – but later left mouths agape
Surprise! ITV viewers flocked with excitement to Twitter, with one impressed fan tweeting: ‘They looked better than the actual drag queens!’
Making an entrance: The duo hit the stage in statement ensembles and full faces of makeup
Impressed: Others were also quick to heap praise onto the spectacular finale, writing comments such as: ‘What an end of the show show!’ and, ‘Ant and Dec in drag is unbelievable. That makeup is incredible’
And someone else unafraid to make an unforgettable entrance was Stephen Mulhern, who channelled Donald Trump while addressing the audience via a raised podium.
The bubbly TV presenter, 44, had fans of the show revelling in his ‘epic entrance’ on Twitter, with one going so far as to say it had made their Saturday night.
‘MULLERS, I’M IN TEARS,’ one ITV viewer enthused, while another chimed, ‘Stephen Mulhern dressed as Donald Trump is not something I was expecting to see tonight.’
Meanwhile, a third took to the microblogging platform to express how much they’d missed the fan favourite Saturday night show.
‘What an epic entrance!’: Someone else unafraid to make an unforgettable entrance was Stephen Mulhern, who channelled Donald Trump while addressing the audience via a raised podium
It’s back The high-profile presenting duo were delighted to welcome back their beloved fans in the flesh
Reaction: One fan chimed, ‘Stephen Mulhern dressed as Donald Trump is not something I was expecting to see tonight!’
Providing the entertainment: The bubbly TV presenter, 44, had fans of the show revelling in his ‘epic entrance’ on Twitter, with one going so far as to say it had made their Saturday night
Back in the flesh: Last series’ proceedings went virtual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic
American drag queen Ru Paul, 61, kickstarted the series as guest announcer, telling ITV viewers – and the audience – that he was ‘thrilled to be there.’
Ru Paul is best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race and proudly announced that all three winners of the UK show (The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Krystal Versace) would perform together for the first time on television in a spectacular ‘end of the show show.’
Elsewhere, Ant and Dec used the famed Audience Cam feature to spotlight Vicky, who was oblivious to the fact her fiancé Nick had the surprise of a lifetime in store.
The pair had postponed their dream wedding ‘countless times’ and had to fork out £28,000 when their wedding venue went bust.
Having convinced Vicky he was in Miami for work, a smitten Nick revealed via a video link that he was in fact in London, before getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him at the end of the show.
Comeback: The best friends were taken-aback at the roaring crowd’s enthusiasm at their return
Here he is: American drag queen Ru Paul, 61, kickstarted the series as guest announcer, telling ITV viewers – and the audience – that he was ‘thrilled to be there’
Famous face: Ru Paul is best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race
Sweet: Elsewhere, Ant and Dec used the famed Audience Cam feature to spotlight Vicky, who was oblivious to the fact her fiancé Nick had the surprise of a lifetime
Surprise! Having convinced Vicky he was in Miami for work, a smitten Nick revealed via a video link that he was in fact in London, before getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him at the end of the show
One feature of the show that was back in full force was Ant vs Dec, which, for the first time, included audience participation.
With Stephen hosting the segment, Ant was thrilled to snatch the win, while his clan of red T-shirt teammates erupted into applause.
The debut Undercover prank was pulled on Jeremy Clarkson, with Dec admitting it was one of the most ‘nerve-wracking’ stints yet.
Exciting: One feature of the show that was back in full force was Ant vs Dec, which, for the first time, included audience participation
Win! With Stephen hosting the segment, Ant was thrilled to snatch the win, while his clan of red T-shirt teammates erupted into applause
Tough task: The debut Undercover prank was pulled on Jeremy Clarkson, with Dec admitting it was one of the most ‘nerve-wracking’ stints yet
Undercover: The Geordie double act gathered additional actors to join them on Jeremy’s farm in a bid to make a stand against harming soil
The Geordie double act gathered additional actors to join them on Jeremy’s farm in a bid to make a stand against harming soil.
As events unfolded, the former Top Gear star became enraged as a police officer threatened to arrest him, responding by cursing at him.
Yet reflecting on the prank in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire studio, Jeremy teased: ‘I’ve had protestors before. They threw manure over the wall and into the rose garden. I’m quite used to dirty people coming!’
Reaction: Yet reflecting on the prank in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire studio, Jeremy teased: ‘I’ve had protestors before. They threw manure over the wall and into the rose garden. I’m quite used to dirty people coming!
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