Ant & Dec call on Saturday Night Takeaway fans to help fill the show amid coronovirus pandemic

It was recently confirmed that their ITV show will be filmed without a studio audience for the first time in it’s history amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And ahead of the show, hosts Ant and Dec have called on Saturday Night Takeaway fans to send in their home videos so they can feature in a special End Of The Show Show.

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the Geordie duo, both 44, told their viewers that the entertainment show needs them to help fill the audience-free show.

They wrote: ‘#SaturdayNightTakeaway NEEDS YOU! We have no studio audience this week so we want YOU, the audience at home, to be the stars of the #EndOfTheShowShow,” the pair shared on Twitter.

‘Film (in landscape) yourself, your family, your pets, whatever, dancing along to @ollymurs ‘Dance With Me Tonight’ at home, for at least 1 min…..then SUBMIT it to us.

‘And you could end up as part of a brilliant EOTSS! See you (and yourself!) on the telly!!’

Co-host Stephen Mulhern also penned a similar message on his own Twitter urging fans to get involved.  

Get involved: Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the Geordie duo, both 44, told their viewers that the entertainment show needs them to help fill the audience-free show

It comes days after ITV confirmed on Tuesday that Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will record without a studio audience, for the first time in the show’s history. 

The show made the decision to prioritise the ‘well-being of everyone involved’, despite it depending heavily on the atmosphere on set.

In a statement, ITV said: ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead this weekend without a studio audience. 

Taking precautions: ITV confirmed on Tuesday that Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will record without a studio audience for the first time in the show’s history amid coronavirus crisis

‘Our priority is safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved. The show will be made with a reduced production crew and in accordance with the latest guidance from Public Health England. 

‘The team are looking forward to bringing our viewers a brilliant show on Saturday evening.’

Earlier in the day, a TV news account on Twitter posted: ‘UPDATE: It’s been confirmed that #SaturdayNightTakeaway and #TheVoiceUK will continue to air WITHOUT a studio audience for the next 3 weeks.

‘The Voice this weekend has already been recorded, but for the 2 live finals it’s still unknown if even the coaches will be present. #COVID19.’

Safety: The show made the decision to prioritise the ‘well-being of everyone involved’, despite it depending heavily on the atmosphere on set (pictured with a studio audience on Saturday)

Making headlines: Earlier in the day, a TV news account claimed the show would not record without a studio audience

Shows such as The Jeremy Vine Show, Loose Women and Celebrity Juice have all halted having studio audiences in attendance for the time being.

The coronavirus gag scenes on Takeaway at the weekend left some viewers furious, as the comedy duo were joined by a 200-strong live studio audience in the London Television Centre for the night’s episode.

Ant also jokingly asked for some hand sanitiser before walking down the studio stairs to greet co-host Dec with a foot tap and an elbow bump to laughs from the crowd.

Taking a more serious tone, the pair then addressed the cancellation of the series’ finale episode in Disneyworld, Florida.

Ant said: ‘I’m sure like us you’ve all been following the news, and in the current climate nothing is more important than people’s health.

‘Absolutely,’ added Dec. ‘And because of this we unfortunately won’t be able to bring you the final show of the series from Florida.’ 

Awkward: The presenters kicked off Saturday Night Takeaway last weekend by making light of the coronavirus outbreak, and viewers were not too impressed