Update: Universal finale for Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead
Plans by Universal Orlando Resort to host the live finale of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway is under review after Ant MacPartlin stepped down from his TV roles after being arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The seventh and final episode of the series was due to be filmed at Universal CityWalk in the Orlando theme park on April 7.
Virgin Holidays planned to charter an aircraft to fly more than 200 winning viewers to be in the audience for the filming of the live show.
However, ITV confirmed yesterday that Saturday Night Takeaway will not air this weekend and the final two episodes, scheduled for March 31 and April 7, will not feature McPartlin.
It was announced that McPartlin, who spent time in rehab last year, was taking time off “for the foreseeable future” and would have further treatment.
He was involved in a collision in south-west London on Sunday. The 42-year-old was arrested after failing a roadside breathalyser test.
An ITV spokesman said: “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.”
The popular Saturday night show filmed its live finale at fellow Orlando theme park Walt Disney World Resort last year and on board P&O Cruises flagship Britannia in Barcelona the year before.
Update: Universal finale for Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead