Lisa Armstrong offered a rare show of support for her ex husband Ant McPartlin on Saturday as the final episode ever of Saturday Night Takeaway aired.
Cheeky duo Ant and Declan Donnelly said goodbye to the ITV show on Saturday night after 22 years and they were joined by some showbiz stars for the send off.
The pair, both 48, choked back tears as they said an emotional farewell at the end of the episode – leaving viewers in tears.
And ahead of the last Saturday Night Takeaway ever, Lisa liked a post from one of her TV friends calling Ant and Dec ‘simply the best.’
The post read: ‘After 20 years this amazing show is coming to a end it’s been a real joy & pleasure to have been there from the beginning, & in my 30 year career in showbiz I’ve worked with some brilliant people but these two are simply the best! Great friendships & memories made.’
Lisa Armstrong offered a rare show of support for her ex husband Ant McPartlin on Saturday as the final episode ever of Saturday Night Takeaway aired (seen in 2015)
Cheeky duo Ant and Declan Donnelly said goodbye to the ITV show on Saturday night after 22 years and they were joined by some showbiz stars for the send off
Makeup artist Lisa and Ant were married from 2006–2018 when they split and Ant later remarried Anne-Marie Corbett who is now expecting a child with him.
There has been much mud-slinging over the years with Lisa often taking to Twitter to vent her fury over the split.
Ant and Dec choked back tears as they said an emotional farewell at the end of the final Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.
The duo drew the ITV series to a close after 22-years with a heartfelt speech thanking viewers at home before serenading the audience with a song.
Ant and Dec admitted they never ‘in their wildest dreams’ imagined the show would be such a hit and last two decades.
With Ant telling viewers: ‘It’s been an honour and a privilege to have made the show and been part of your Saturday nights for 22 years.’
As an emotional Dec continued: ‘When we started this back in 2002 we both thought we’d be lucky if we got to do this for maybe a couple of years.
‘So what’s happened has honestly been beyond our wildest dreams, We have truly adored every second of making this show’.
And ahead of the last Saturday Night Takeaway ever, Lisa liked a post from one of her TV friends calling Ant and Dec ‘simply the best’
Makeup artist Lisa and Ant were married from 2006–2018 when they split and Ant later remarried Anne-Marie Corbett who is now expecting a child with him
There has been much mud-slinging over the years with Lisa often taking to Twitter to vent her fury over the split (Ant and Anne-Marie seen in 2021)
Ant (L) and Dec (R) choked back tears as they said an emotional farewell at the end of the final Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend
The duo, both 48, drew the ITV series to a close after 22-years with a heartfelt speech thanking viewers at home before serenading the audience with a song
With tears in his eyes Dec said: “But there’s one thing we’ve never ever forgotten when making this show. And that’s the fact it’s not our show, it’s your show, so we’d like to say a massive thank you to you our incredible audience. Thank you’.
Pal Ant then came to the rescue and put a hand on his shoulder before introducing a montage of the show’s most memorable moments.
The hosts were then joined on stage by McFly’s Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher as they sung a specially rewritten rendition of the band’s hit All About you.
Viewers at home were equally emotional and took to X/Twitter with one writing: ‘And the nation is crying!!!!’.
‘Thank you so much @antanddec for entertaining all of us for 20 years’: ‘Oh man, sad day for TV. Thank you Ant and Dec for 22 years of the best’: ‘Going to miss @itvtakeaway and @antanddec brought tears to my eyes, after many years, well done boys!’: ‘Genuinely missing it already’.
Last year Ant and Dec announced they’d quit Saturday Night Takeaway ahead of the 20th series, shocking their fans across the nation.
The pair will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV, hosting hit shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and Limitless Win, all of which air across ITV1 and ITVX.
Despite the emotion the show was full of it’s usual madcap chaos with Ant even injuring himself after tacking Stephen Mulhern live on air.
Comedian Stephen, 47, returned to the programme for the last episode ahead of the ITV show’s hiatus after he was struck down with a mystery illness last week.
Television presenter Stephen was in good form as he appeared in the studio dressed as a giant gold trophy.
Magician Stephen umpired a penalty shoot-out competition between Ant and his co-host Declan.
In the goal was retired footballer Ben Foster, 41, who played for Wrexham until last year.
‘Honestly Stephen, we’ve had a blast,’ Ant said after losing.
‘Stephen thank you so much for everything you brought,’ Dec said. ‘You’ve been an absolute star we couldn’t have done it without you.’
Ant the proceeded to tackle Stephen to the ground, smashing him to the floor in his gold trophy costume.
After the break, Ant was seen back in the studio, dabbing his cheek with a tissue.
When Dec quizzed Ant on what had happened, he explained he had cut his face while taking Stephen down.
Earlier fans admitted they’re feeling ’emotional and nostalgic’ mere seconds after the show’s final episode began, after noticing a major change for the supersized swan song.
The two-hour special kicked off with an homage to the show’s famous opening titles, with a montage of the various introductions that have appeared throughout the show’s run.
It was a change that didn’t go unnoticed by many fans, who shared that the change had already left them in tears.
Posts on X included: ‘#SaturdayNightTakeaway impressed by the mashup of all the titles over the years; Loved that opening!’
‘We start with a montage of all the opening titles of #SaturdayNightTakeaway over the years! Feeling emotional and nostalgic;
‘All the opening titles from across the years…; OMG obsessed with the 20-year mashup of the titles!
‘The running opening titles were always the best ones;
‘ALRIGHT @itvtakeaway HAS LITERALLY JUST STARTED AND IT DONE A FREAKING MONTAGE OR WHATEVER U CALL IT THE OPENING CREDITS FROM OVER THE YEARS!’
‘One minute into #saturdaynighttakeaway and them opening credits for me a bit emotional.’
Meanwhile Holly Willoughby and Rylan Clark also caused havoc as they pelted cake at the hosts.
The famous faces paid a visit in a bid to seek revenge against Ant and Dec as part of the infamous I’m A Celebrity…Get Out Of Me Ear! prank segment.
Over the years, stars have been put in embarrassing and hilarious situations as they are roped into saying and doing ridiculous things in public while instructed by Ant and Dec via an earpiece.
However, during the final episode, the tables were turned and it was the celebrities who were instructing hosts Ant and Dec what to do as they dined out in a restaurant with unsuspecting members of the public.
Taking a seat next to a microphone, Rylan said: ‘We’re gonna give it to them,’ as he high-fived Holly before preparing to speak to the Geordie duo via their earpieces.
Television presenter Rylan told Ant to take a toothbrush and clean his teeth before spitting the toothpaste out on the floor, much to the disgust of the diners alongside him.
Elsewhere, Dec was told to stand on his feet and shout: ‘We want grub and we want it now,’ while Ant waved a napkin around his head.
They also asked the waiter to cut their food for them, explaining that they were celebrities who usually had someone to do it for them.
In addition to Holly and Rylan, Simon Cowell, Alison Hammond, Oti Mabuse, Olly Murs, Gino D’Acampo and Davina McCall were also given the chance to tell Ant and Dec what to do.
Girls Aloud singer Cheryl was then seen bringing two cakes into the restaurant to celebrate 20 series of Saturday Night Takeaway.
But they did’t get a chance to eat the cakes as Cheryl stuck the hosts’ heads in them while Holly and Rylan threw lumps at them, with all the stars covered in sponge.Ant insisted that nobody in the restaurant knew it was a prank, explaining: ‘No one knew. It was hideous. Being surrounded by people that didn’t know and had no idea.
‘None of the staff, none of the people in the restaurant. You just felt like a really obnoxious celebrity in a restaurant.’
The show took another chaotic turn, after a contestant accidentally swore during a hilarious segment.
One of the show’s most popular segments was Ring My Bell, where contestants’ neighbours had to frantically rush to ring their doorbell in a bid to win £500.
But once the challenge was complete, it was revealed the neighbours had to complete a second challenge, to win money and a Takeaway Getaway for themselves and the contestants watching in the studio.
Ant and Dec admitted they never ‘in their wildest dreams’ imagined the show would be such a hit and last two decades (pictured on the show in 2004)
Ant (L) told viewers: ‘It’s been an honour and a privilege to have made the show and been part of your Saturday nights for 22 years’
The show finally closed with a lively song and dance as a whole host of celebs joined in the action
Ant and Dec returned to the stage as confetti fell from the ceiling
Tasked with grabbing a hat, a duvet and a wheelie bin, the contestant from Stevenage rushed back to the front door with the items.
But Ant quickly noted that he needed to ring the doorbell again and say the right phrase, prompting the neighbour to say ‘Oh s**t’.
Ant added: ‘Apologies for any swearing from Mr Stevenage there.’
Luckily viewers quickly saw the funny side of the gaffe, in a live show that was packed with amusing and unexpected moments.
‘Naughty Ben swearing. Ring My Bell; Apologising for swearing then they crack a joke about his helmet being on show! Brilliant!’ they tweeted.
