Stephen Mulhern calls for Ant and Dec to 'do another show' after 'loss' of Saturday Night Takeaway
Stephen said Saturday Night Takeaway was a TV "staple"Stephen Mulhern has called for Ant and Dec to “do something else” following the “loss” of their show, Saturday Night Takeaway.
The entertainment show went on a hiatus in 2024 after decades on screen. At the time of the hiatus, hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly said it seemed like the “perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath”.
But now, Stephen, who featured on Saturday Night Takeaway, thinks the duo should come back with something else…
Stephen Mulhern says Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway was a ‘staple’
Speaking on the Hanging Out With Ant and Dec podcast, Stephen said of the show: “I don’t think people realised how much it would be missed.
“I think it was a staple for family sort of viewing where they felt safe, they could watch it. I speak on behalf of the nation, listen, I do.”
He added: “You need to do something else because it’s a loss.”
Elsewhere on the podcast, Stephen also offered to host In For a Penny for free as he pushed ITV to revive it. He challenged the channel to act on its apparent interest.
His Saturday night game show was shelved after six series in 2024. The presenter did not issue a statement when it was shelved.
Stephen Mulhern offers to bring back In For a Penny
Ant asked: “Is it coming back, is it not coming back? What’s happening?”
Stephen said ITV kept telling him it wanted the programme back, but he wanted that talk turned into action.
He put it bluntly: “If you really want it back, bring it back.”
Then came an offer that caught Ant’s attention. Stephen said: “Do you know I’d actually do that show for nothing? I genuinely would.”
Ant reminded him that he and Dec produced In For a Penny. He joked that Stephen’s promise had been captured on camera.
Read more: Sir David Attenborough wins best presenter at NTAs as he beats Ant and Dec
Stephen also explained why he would give up his fee: “I adore doing it but also I love being with members of the public.”
The programme took Stephen around UK towns, shopping centres and petrol stations. There, he challenged people to unusual mini-games with cash prizes up for grabs.
It began as a recurring Saturday Night Takeaway segment before becoming a standalone ITV programme in 2019.
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