When Will Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Return Odds?

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has mostly been a mainstay on TV since 2002, but the pair have now embarked on a break from the show.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! co-hosts confirmed last year they would be having a "bit of a rest" from the programme after reaching their 20th series this year, and betting sites have been speculating about just how long they will be away.

In last Saturday's finale, Ant admitted it had been an "honour and a privilege" hosting the light entertainment programme, and Dec insisted the pair had "truly adored every second of making the show".

An average of nearly five million viewers tuned in to wave them off, but how long will the show be away for? And will it even return?

Another Four-Year Break?

Saturday Night Takeaway initially aired from 2002 to 2009 after which the presenter pair went on a four-year hiatus before the programme returned in 2013.

It is just 6/4 on specials betting sites that they do the same again and go on another four-year break, before Saturday Night Takeaway makes another triumphant return in 2028.

Last May, the pair admitted this year's series would be their final one for "a little while", because it takes up so much of their time.

Back then, Dec said: "We've decided that our 20th series next year will be our last one for a little while.

"The show takes up such a lot of our year. We just feel that we need a little bit of a breather and have a little bit of a rest."

Family Time Break

But the pair might need even longer off, after Ant admitted earlier this year that the pair are taking a break to spend time with their families.

Speaking to Fault magazine in February, he said: "Part of the reason we’re pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.

"We’ve both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit."

The former Byker Grove stars are both 48 now. Dec has two kids with his wife Ali Astall, while Ant has a baby on the way with his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett.

It's just 2/1 on betting apps that Saturday Night Takeaway makes a return in five years, and it's 3/1 that the show makes a comeback in 2030 or later. It wouldn't be a huge surprise should the pair embark on a lengthy lay-off.

The Unthinkable For Super-Fans

However, if the pair miss the show too much then they could make a return in 2027 (5/1), or even 2026 (6/1).

But Saturday Night Takeaway super-fans won't even want to consider the fact that it is possible new episodes of the programme never hit our screens.

While Ant and Dec haven't given any indication that this could happen, circumstances do change and the way TV is going with more and more streaming services popping up, putting terrestrial TV at risk, the chances of Takeaway meeting its maker could increase each year it isn't made.

Despite this, ITV know Ant and Dec are a real ratings winner, and fans should take some solace in the fact it is a massive 10/1 on new betting sites that the programme never returns.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.