Declan Donnelly finally made reference to Ant McPartlin 25 minutes into Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, as he went it alone without his co-host.
He hadn’t mentioned his pal’s absence as he took to the stage for the first time alone – to a standing ovation – and only alluded to it by mentioning he had twice the work this week.
Dec then casually spoke about Ant – and their former sm:tv co-host Cat Deeley – as he explained it was Takeaway’s last show in the ITV Studios they’ve grown up working in.
There was rapturous applause as he made another cheeky reference to him presenting alone, saying: “I’ll have to do it meself, like everything else around here this week.”
Many viewers felt this was the best way to handle Ant’s very obvious and well-publicised absence – and totally in keeping with their humour.
only dec could joke about this 😂 #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— molly || 14 (@FindingLewys_) 31 March 2018
I love Dec, only he is able to make jokes about Ant not being there 😅 #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— samantha (@samanthahynes93) 31 March 2018
“I’ll have to do it meself like everything else round here this week” 😭😂 #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— katie (@Kaaaaatie_x) 31 March 2018
Tonight’s show has been leaving viewers emotional wrecks, too, though…
It’s been one hell of a day. An absolutely awful day. Now here I am completely sobbing at #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— Kelly ✨ (@365daysoffear) 31 March 2018
Im crying again ffs #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— charlene wedgner (@charlenebooks83) 31 March 2018
Oh bloody hell @itvtakeaway @antanddec I can’t cope with this level of emotion! Ant not on stage and reuniting a lady who’s been in hospital for a heart condition with her long lost sister live on TV #saturday #easter #weekend #emotional #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— Rosie Smith (@RosieAliceSmith) 31 March 2018
#SaturdayNightTakeaway got me like: pic.twitter.com/XJ09gJ1do4
— Kate☀ (@_violetdaffodil) 31 March 2018
Deary me @antanddec you’ve had me in tears already when Dec was looking nervous at the start of the show but I’m now a wreck after “this time next takeaway!” 😢😭 #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— Laura Halliday (@laurabru2407) 31 March 2018
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