ITV Has Pulled This Week's Episode Of "Saturday Night Takeaway"

    Ant McPartlin will not appear for the rest of the series, ITV confirmed to BuzzFeed News.

    Scott Bryan
    by Scott Bryan

    BuzzFeed TV Editor

    ITV has pulled this week's edition of Saturday Night Takeaway, following presenter Ant McPartlin's reported drink driving arrest on Sunday.

    ITV

    The Sun reported that the presenter was arrested following an accident in southwest London on Sunday.

    The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that a 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving.

    Last summer, McPartlin spoke to the Sun on Sunday and admitted that he had become addicted to opioids following an operation and was in rehab.

    In a statement to BuzzFeed News, ITV confirmed that McPartlin will be seeking treatment again and that it is "reviewing options" for the rest of the series.

    ITV has taken a joint decision with Ant and Dec’s team not to broadcast Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend.

    We will be reviewing options for the last two episodes of the series (March 31 and April 7) which would not feature Ant who is taking time off to seek treatment. We very much hope that he gets the help that he needs.

    A spokesperson for McPartlin said: "Ant has decided to go back into treatment and step down from his current TV commitments. He has spoken with Dec and ITV today and asked for time off for the foreseeable future. As such Saturday Night Takeaway will not be going ahead this Saturday."

    The suspension of the show has big consequences for ITV, with Saturday Night Takeaway being one of the most successful shows in its schedule.

    Wpa Pool / Getty Images

    In an era where linear television is producing less of a draw, Saturday Night Takeaway continues to do well. Last Saturday 7.3 million people watched the latest episode of the show, according to the website TellyMix.

    If McPartlin is not able to work for ITV for a while, it would also have knock-on effects for two other shows that are central to the success of ITV's entertainment offering for the rest of the year: Britain's Got Talent , which usually airs in spring, and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, which appears in the autumn.

    Since the news broke on Sunday, fans have had mixed reactions about whether the show should return this weekend.

    SHAQ 🐝 @InkedUpSHAQ

    Seeing Ant McPartlin like this really is breaking my heart. Having grown up on Ant & Dec from the Byker Grove days it seems to be more personal, even though I don't know him personally. Hope he gets the help he needs & soon.

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    ITV has not yet confirmed what will fill the slot this Saturday evening.