Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway returned for it's fifteenth series on ITV running for six episodes from 24 February 2018 to 7 April 2018.
Series overview[]
The fifteenth series was aired in early Spring 2018, running for six episodes from 24 February to 7 April, and averaging around 8.43 million viewers. Like the previous series, the series finale took place outside of the UK at Universal Orlando Resort with tickets for places in this episode offered through the series, while it was the last series to be broadcast live from London Studios before its closure for redevelopment later in the year. This series saw "Little Ant & Dec" discontinued, owing to the production team deciding that the young actors for this segment had outgrown their roles and thus should be allowed to focus on their education, while "Ant & Dec Undercover" was restricted to just one episode, owing to the massive and complex amount of preparation done to film the segment. This series aired its 100th episode, which celebrated this milestone by featuring highlights from the last 99 episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway, along with a one-off revival of the segment "Home-Run", and a special edition of "Win the Ads", hosted by Emma Willis, in which the presenters tackled the game themselves on behalf of a studio audience member randomly chosen before the episode's broadcast.
As like the previous series, it features a mini-serial comedy drama entitled "Saturday Knight Takeaway", to be aired during the series' broadcast. The cast will be the largest to date in the use of mini-serials, featuring 30 celebrities - the mini-serial stars Ant & Dec, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Olly Murs, David Walliams, Katie Price, Emilia Fox, Joanna Lumley, Aled Jones, Alan Titchmarsh, Gareth Malone, Martin Lewis, Clare Balding, Carol Vorderman, Shirley Bassey, Ian "H" Watkins, Alan Shearer, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Michael Sheen. Apart from the mini-serial, the series featured opening performances from Kylie Minogue, George Ezra, Paloma Faith, as well as a special rendition of Everybody Needs Somebody to Love for the series finale. For "Singalong Live", it featured performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Script, and The Rembrandts.
This series is notable for being affected greatly by the absence of Anthony McPartlin following the fourth episode, after he was involved in a traffic accident on 18 March 2018, connected to drink-driving, which led to him suspending further presenting duties the following day for the rest of the series and other programmes. As a direct result, it led to an episode that was planned for the 24 March 2018 to be cancelled by ITV, and the discontinuation of "Ant vs. Dec" for the rest of the series. However, its most significant impact, was that it led to Declan Donnelly hosting the remaining two episodes by himself, the first time he had presented a programme in 30 years without McPartlin, with his co-presenters Stephen Mulhern and Scarlett Moffatt receiving expanded roles in these episodes. Although absent, McPartlin appeared in these episodes but solely within the pre-recorded editions of the mini-serial "Saturday Knight Takeaway". The decision to continue the series after the incident had occurred, was primarily down to the presenters and the production team choosing not to cancel tickets made out to people who had secured a place within the audience for the series finale in Florida.
People/Characters who appeared in the entire series[]
Main Show (live)[]
- Anthony McPartlin (main host; 24 February - 17 March)
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Kylie Minogue (Episode 1)
- Amanda Holden (Episode 1)
- Paul Potts (Episode 2)
- Ricky Wilson (Episode 2)
- Riverdance (Episode 2)
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (Episode 3)
- Cast of School Of Rock (Episode 3)
- Alexandra Burke (Episode 3)
- Joe McElderry (Episode 3)
- Philip Schofield (Episode 3)
- Ashley Banjo (Episode 4)
- Jordan Banjo (Episode 4)
- Olly Murs (Star guest announcer; Episode 1)
- Cuba Gooding Jr (Star guest announcer; Episode 2)
- James Corden (Star guest announcer; Episode 3)
- Emma Bunton (Star guest announcer; Episode 4)
- Stephen Merchant (Star guest announcer; Episode 5)
- Denise Richards (Star guest announcer; Episode 6)
- Paddy McGuinness (stock footage)
- Thomas (mentioned; Episode 1)
- The Fat Controller (mentioned; Episode 1)
- Shrek (does not speak)
- The Minions (do not speak)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak)
- Alex the Lion (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak)
- Poppy (does not speak)
- Branch (does not speak)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (does not speak)
- Po the Panda (does not speak)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak)
- Princess Fiona (does not speak; stock footage)
- Puss in Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Scooby Doo (does not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Diego (does not speak; stock footage)
Saturday Knight Takeaway[]
- Anthony McPartlin
- Declan Donnelly
- Emilia Fox
- Joanna Lumley
- Philip Schofield
- Holly Willoughby
- David Walliams
- Christopher Biggins
- Aled Jones
- Alan Titchmarsh
- Gareth Malone
- Martin Lewis
- Clare Balding
- Carol Vorderman
- Shirley Bassey
- Ian "H" Watkins
- Alan Shearer
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Michael Sheen
- Little & Large
- Katie Price
- Noel Edmonds
People/Characters who appear in the episodes[]
February 24 2018[]
- Anthony McPartlin (main host)
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Kylie Minogue
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Amanda Holden
- Olly Murs (star guest announcer)
- Paddy McGuinness (stock footage)
- David Walliams (stock footage)
- Alesha Dixon (stock footage)
- Simon Cowell (stock footage)
- Thomas (mentioned)
- The Fat Controller (mentioned)
- The Minions (do not speak)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak)
- Alex the Lion (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak)
- Shrek (does not speak)
March 3 2018 (The 100th Episode)[]
- Anthony McPartlin (main host)
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Michael Ball
- Alfie Boe
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Emma Willis
- Paul Potts
- Ricky Wilson
- Riverdance
- Cuba Gooding Jr (star guest announcer)
- Shrek (does not speak; stock footage)
- The Minions (do not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Marge Simpson (does not speak)
- Lisa Simpson (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak; stock footage)
- Poppy (does not speak; stock footage)
- Branch (does not speak; stock footage)
- Po the Panda (does not speak; stock footage)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak; stock footage)
- Princess Fiona (does not speak; stock footage)
- Puss in Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Scooby Doo (does not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Diego (does not speak; stock footage)
March 10 2018[]
- Anthony McPartlin (main host)
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Cast of School Of Rock
- Alexandra Burke
- Joe McElderry
- Philip Schofield
- James Corden (star guest announcer)
- Alex the Lion (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak)
- Shrek (does not speak; stock footage)
- The Minions (do not speak; stock footage)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Marge Simpson (does not speak)
- Lisa Simpson (does not speak)
- Poppy (does not speak; stock footage)
- Branch (does not speak; stock footage)
- Po the Panda (does not speak; stock footage)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak; stock footage)
- Princess Fiona (does not speak; stock footage)
- Puss in Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Scooby Doo (does not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Diego (does not speak; stock footage)
March 17 2018[]
- Anthony McPartlin (main host)
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- George Ezra
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Ashley Banjo
- Jordan Banjo
- Emma Bunton (star guest announcer)
- Poppy (does not speak)
- Branch (does not speak)
- Little & Large (Saturday Knight Takeaway)
- Stephen Mulhern (Saturday Knight Takeaway)
- Shrek (does not speak; stock footage)
- The Minions (do not speak; stock footage)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak; stock footage)
- Marge Simpson (does not speak)
- Lisa Simpson (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak; stock footage)
- Po the Panda (does not speak; stock footage)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak; stock footage)
- Princess Fiona (does not speak; stock footage)
- Puss in Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Scooby Doo (does not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Diego (does not speak; stock footage)
March 31 2018[]
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Paloma Faith
- Devina McCall
- The Script
- Stephen Merchant (star guest announcer)
- Anthony McPartlin (Saturday Knight Takeaway)
- The Minions (do not speak)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak)
- Shrek (does not speak; stock footage)
- The Minions (do not speak; stock footage)
- Marge Simpson (does not speak)
- Lisa Simpson (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak; stock footage)
- Poppy (does not speak; stock footage)
- Branch (does not speak; stock footage)
- Po the Panda (does not speak; stock footage)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak; stock footage)
- Princess Fiona (does not speak; stock footage)
- Puss in Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Scooby Doo (does not speak; stock footage)
- Spider Man (does not speak; stock footage)
- Boots (does not speak; stock footage)
- Diego (does not speak; stock footage)
7 April 2018 (The series finale; Universal Orlando Resort)[]
- Declan Donnelly (main host)
- Scarlett Moffatt
- Stephen Mulhern
- Jason Derulo
- Craig David
- Mark Wright
- The Rembrandts
- Denise Richards (star guest announcer)
- Anthony McPartlin (Saturday Knight Takeaway)
- Shrek (does not speak)
- The Minions (do not speak)
- Bart Simpson (does not speak)
- Homer Simpson (does not speak)
- Marge Simpson (does not speak)
- Lisa Simpson (does not speak)
- Alex the Lion (does not speak)
- Penguins of Madagascar (do not speak)
- Poppy (does not speak)
- Branch (does not speak)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (does not speak)
- Po the Panda (does not speak)
- Octopus Prime (does not speak)
End of the Show Show performances[]
| Show | Date | Celebrity | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 February 2018 | Kylie Minogue feat. Ant & Dec, Stephen Mulhern, Scarlett Moffatt, Amanda Holden and Olly Murs | Medley of songs from Kylie's 30-year career. |
| 2 | 3 March 2018 | Alfie Boe and Michael Ball, with Ruthie Henshall, Paul Potts, Ricky Wilson, Emma Willis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Riverdance feat. Ant & Dec | 'Bring Me Sunshine' |
| 3 | 10 March 2018 | Cast of School Of Rock, Alexandra Burke, and Joe McElderry, feat. Ant & Dec, James Corden and Phillip Schofield | 70th Birthday West End Musical Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber ft. songs from School of Rock, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. |
| 4 | 17 March 2018 | George Ezra | 'Cassy O' |
| 5 | 31 March 2018 | Paloma Faith feat. Declan Donnelly, Stephen Mulhern, and Scarlett Moffatt | 'Upside Down' |
| 6 | 7 April 2018 | Jason Derulo feat. Declan Donnely, Stephen Mulhern, Scarlett Moffatt, Mark Wright, Craig David, and a selection of Universal Orlando Resort characters | "Colors/"Conga" |
Trivia[]
- Even though Anthony McPartlin was absent in the last two episodes in the series (31 March and 7 April), he still appeared in the episodes but solely within the pre-recorded editions of Saturday Knight Takeaway.
- In the end credits of all the episodes, these franchises were credited. Those being:
- Harry Potter
- The Simpsons
- Trolls
- Kung Fu Panda
- Madagascar
- Shrek
- Scooby Doo
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Men in Black
- Alien Attack
- Blues Brothers
- This marks the last of few things:
- The last series Scarlett Moffatt as Best Seats in the House host and to feature the Best Seats in the House.
- The last series to feature the segment In For a Penny.
- At the end of the series, Dec confirmed it would be given its own series.
- The last series to be broadcast from The London Studios. The series was later broadcast from The Television Centre.
- The last series to see Joanna Lumley and Emilia Fox as heads of The Honoured. They were later replaced by Richard Ayoade and Hugh Bonneville.
- This was the first series to see a cancellation of something. That being an episode of the series that was planned to be aired on 24 March.
- This series' Undercover victim was Amanda Holden.
- This series' I'm a Celebrity... Get Out of Me Ear stars were Ashley Banjo and Jordan Banjo.