The Geordie duo will shelve ITV’s prime-time entertainment show after 20 series with tonight’s two-hour live extravaganza.
They announced last year they needed a “breather” and have thrown all the gunge, gags and guests left in their locker at this last hurrah.
Ahead of tonight’s finale, Ant McPartlin, 48, said: “I know it’ll be an emotional night but we intend to give Takeaway viewers a party to end all parties.
“It’s genuinely the biggest Saturday Night Takeaway we’ve ever done.
“We’re taking over the whole of TV Centre, it’s going to be chaotic, unpredictable and hopefully very entertaining.”
Dec Donnelly, 48, added: “It’s been mixed emotions all week.
“We feel incredibly proud, grateful and excited to reach series 20.
“Takeaway is the show we always wanted to make — a live, anything-can-happen, prime-time entertainment show like the ones we’d enjoyed growing up.”
Some 32 celebs will help the boys say goodbye on tonight’s show, including Simon Cowell, Girls Aloud, Amanda Holden and Rylan Clark.
And the lads are welcoming back former helpers Ashley Roberts and Kirsty Gallacher for the final decider of the Ant vs Dec challenges.
There will also be a mega singalong with Kaiser Chiefs, Tony Hadley and S Club.
Ant said: “Everyone they asked immediately said yes.”
With a final tease, Ant said: “I don’t want to give away too much but it will be a big goodbye . . . “
And Dec added: “ . . . For now!”
- Watch tonight at 7pm on ITV1
LAST SHOWS
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THE end-of-series shows became epic. Among them were huge bashes at Disneyland Paris in 1995, above, P&O’s Britannia cruise ship in 2016 and Universal Orlando resort in Florida last year.
ANT vs DEC ABSEIL, February 2013
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Kirsty Gallacher helmed as the two hosts grappled with ropes and abseiled down 24- storey Kent House studios – then home to ITV – on London’s South Bank.
ANTHONY JOSHUA’S CHEESEBOARD ABS February 2020
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THE boxer pranked a woman to grate cheese on his washboard abs when he took part in the Get Me Out Of Ear segment.
LIVE WEDDING CEREMONY, February 2022
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Mum-to-be Vicky Powell had to cancel her wedding to Nick due to the pandemic and they lost more than £20k when their venue went bust – so Ant and Dec threw them an unforgettable bash
ROBBIE WILLIAMS SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN Feb 2013
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FRIEND of the show Robbie sang and tap- danced through the classic movie theme tune, before he was joined by Ant and Dec in raincoats.
LITTLE ANT & DEC WITH POSH SPICE February 2013
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THE diminutive duo played football with Victoria Beckham and cheekily tried to sign her son Brooklyn for Newcastle United.
THE LADS PRANK THE PUBLIC February 2022
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ANT and Dec went to London’s O2 Arena, where they caused chaos by taking over a video security system.
ICE BATH BETRAYAL, March 2023
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Stephen Mulhern wanted the loser of Ant Vs Dec to take a freezing cold ice bath.
Winner Dec was fuming when Stephen plunged him into the water alongside Ant.
MICHAEL BUBLE DOWN THE PUB March 2013
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THE king of the crooners sang It’s A Beautiful Day while walking to a pub then did a karaoke version of Ant & Dec’s Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble.
THE BIG REUNION, April 2013
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Nineties chart toppers 5ive, Atomic Kitten and Blue performed a megamix of hits to celebrate their reunion tour.
Ant and Dec donned their PJ And Duncan gear to join in.
RYLAN’S EUROVISION PRANK, April 2023
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Rylan Clark thought he was filming a promo video for the Eurovision Song Contest – but Ant and Dec got up to all kinds of mischief with the help of the studio’s green screen.
AMERICAN IDOL, January 2003
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THE hosts pranked Simon Cowell and his fellow American Idol judges when they disguised themselves with wigs and dodgy beards to audition as US rappers.
ED SHEERAN AND THE ROYAL MARINES February 2015
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Global superstar Ed performed his hit Sing with the military band whilst the lads caused comedy mayhem.
RICHARD MADELEY’S CALENDAR SHOOT February 2015
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THE king of daytime gamely followed the boys’ hilarious instructions on Get Me Out Of Ear to pose for a calendar – including a tennis scene.
RIVERDANCE, March 2013
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Twinkle-toed Ant and Dec performed an energetic routine alongside the Irish dance legends.
The studio audience went wild for their nifty footwork.
CAGED APES, November 2010
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THE pals were pranked by their own producers during their What’s Next? item, leaving fans in stitches as they failed to realise the apes they were trapped with were fake.
DERMOT O’LEARY’S SUPERMARKET SPREE April 2017
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Dermot was another victim of Get Out Of Me Ear, this time in a supermarket, where he was forced to grapple with bananas and a cucumber.
DEC DONS KYLIE’S GOLD HOTPANTS February 2018
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POP princess Kylie Minogue sang Spinning Around in the first show of the fifteenth series – and Dec pulled on a pair of her replica pants.
LEPRECHAUN ARREST, March 2016
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THE comedy duo were nicked while dressed as leprechauns during a Who Shot Simon Cowell? skit as they spied on their suspect Louis Walsh in an Irish pub.
LADY ANTOINETTE AND MISS DONNA LEE, February 2022
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THE lads transformed into drag queens alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Lawrence Chaney, The Vivienne and Krystal Versace for charity.
Stars on the mic
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WHILE the lads roped the great and good of British TV into wacky games and skits, the real star power came in the guest announcer booth.
Ant and Dec managed to book an astonishing array of talent to provide a live voiceover for the show.
Big moments included Hollywood legend Quentin Tarantino in September 2007, Uma Thurman in February 2008 and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson the following month.
Paris Hilton offered some glam in February 2009.
After the boys’ break came Lewis Hamilton in March 2013, The Muppets in March 2014 and Oscar winner Olivia Colman in April 2015.
Hollywood leading men brandished the mic, too.
Hugh Jackman and Star Wars’ Mark Hamill appeared in March 2016, and Cuba Gooding Jr was in the booth in March 2018. Even Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl came on in April 2020.
It wasn’t just the Geordie duo who reeled in the big names.
Their mini-mes Little Ant and Dec grilled the likes of Sir Bruce Forsyth, Gerard Butler, George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson.
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