'Saturday Night Takeaway' canceled after Ant's crash and DUI arrest

[Kniwt]

So, yes, I know, it's somewhat open to debate whether Saturday Night Takeaway is a "game show." But at the very least, it has lots of game elements (Win the Ads, Ant v Dec, Singalong Live, etc.), Ant & Dec have hosted plenty of game shows (for better and for worse, cough, RedOrBlack, cough) and the news is somewhat surprising and sad. The Guardian reports:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/mar/20/ant-and-dec-itv-drink-driving-arrest

... On Sunday, Anthony McPartlin was involved in a car collision and arrested on suspicion of drink driving leaving Declan Donnelly reportedly “devastated” at his best friend’s condition.

... After the incident, he failed a police breathalyser test and was arrested, before being released under investigation on Monday. ITV quickly announced that this week’s episode of Saturday Night Takeaway would be cancelled. The rest of the series is under review, but McPartlin will definitely not be in any episodes as he returns to rehab.

[TLEberle]

Aw, that's pity especially because it really cornholes Dec unfairly.

/I thought the second series of Red or Black was fantastic, and I'm a Celebrity doesn't have any pretenses other than hilarity.
//If you're not going to don't drink, don't drive.

[Kniwt]

Dec says today that he will go on to host the remaining two episodes of this series without Ant, but they will be delayed by one week:

https://twitter.com/antanddec/status/976440602811359233

http://deadline.com/2018/03/declan-donnelly-to-host-itvs-saturday-night-takeaway-on-his-own-following-ant-mcpartlins-suspected-dui-1202350595/

“Whilst I never thought I’d be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we’ve decided that the remaining two shows of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead. We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honor that. Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series.”

[Mr. Armadillo]

Some unfortunate cropping on the picture of Dec that Deadline chose.

/Also, Byron Allen just bought The Weather Channel?

[johnnya2k3]

/Also, Byron Allen just bought The Weather Channel?

Who’s ready for "Weather Unleashed with Jim Cantore"?

But back on-topic: NBC did try to bring Saturday Night Takeaway to the States as "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" on Wednesday nights briefly in 2015 (NPH had just hosted the Oscars to scathing reviews, but not at scathing as David Letterman from 20 years before).

[aaron sica]

but not at scathing as David Letterman from 20 years before).

Yes, we know that you know things.
No, we don't care.

[Jeremy Nelson]

It’s such a shame since they’re such an iconic duo. But this is Ant’s second rehab stint, and if you’re Dec, do you have to start having some conversations with your team about a long term contingency plan?

[Kniwt]

If you've been watching this series and had been wondering about the fate of "Saturday Knight Takeaway," the ongoing pre-recorded mystery segment, this "exclusive" today from gossip world says the segment will continue, and will do so including Ant's pre-recorded role in it.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz-tv/hot-tv/691612/Ant-McPartlin-Ant-and-Dec-Saturday-Night-Takeaway-ITV
Ant McPartlin WILL return to Saturday Night Takeaway this week

True headline but a bit clickbait-y, since it's only in the pre-recorded segment.