Cat Deeley is being tipped to co-host Saturday Night Takeaway next month.
It’s now been confirmed that Dec will front the show without Ant, who yesterday was charged with drink-driving.
Saturday Night Takeaway’s latest episode has been cancelled this weekend, with Ant leaving the show for the rest of the series.
A spokesperson for Ant said on Monday: “Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments. He’s spoken with Dec and ITV and asked for time off for the foreseeable future.
“As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday.”
Yesterday, Dec announced the remaining two episodes will go ahead without Ant.
He said: “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 honour that.
“Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series. Dec x.”
As yet no details have been confirmed on how the show will work with out Ant, but insiders claim Cat Deeley could lend a helping hand.
Cat fronted SMTV with Ant and Dec and joined the Geordie duo for the series final of Takeaway last year.
A source told the Daily Star: “Cat can bring the feel good nostalgia that producers desperately need right now.
“She had brilliant on-screen chemistry with Ant and Dec for more than five years and would fit in perfectly.”
It’s understood that Stephen Mulhern and Scarlett Moffatt will continue in their supporting roles on the show.
In a statement, ITV said: “ITV can confirm that Saturday Night Takeaway, presented by Declan Donnelly, will return on March 31, and the series finale will be taking place at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida a week later.”
As well as Saturday Night Takeaway, Ant and Dec also front Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity.
