‘Surely she is the answer’: Saturday Night Takeaway fans call for Cat Deeley to stand-in for Ant McPartlin alongside Declan Donnelly

Deeley previously worked with the Geordie duo on SMTV Live 
Perfect fit: TV star Cat Deeley
Kevin Winter/Getty
Emma Powell22 March 2018

Cat Deeley has been tipped to take over from Ant McPartlin for the remaining episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway.

Fans are calling on the TV star to stand-in alongside Declan Donnelly after McPartlin terminated his work commitments for the “foreseeable future” in order to return to rehab.

Deeley – who previously worked with the Geordie duo on SMTV Live – lives in the US so could be the perfect candidate to co-host the series finale in Orlando, Florida.

She currently has odds of 2/1 to step in according to Betfair behind current Saturday Night Takeaway regulars Scarlett Moffat (11/10) and Stephen Mulhern (5/1).

Good friends: Cat Deeley with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly
Rex

Fans begged for show bosses to hire Deeley with one tweeting: “A lovely opportunity for @catdeeley to step into Ant’s shoes, she’s the perfect stand in for the last 2 eps. Loved you three together.”

Another wrote: “If Cat Deeley doesn’t replace Ant for Saturday Night Takeaway I will be fuming she is literally the ONLY acceptable choice.”

McPartlin was yesterday charged with drink-driving after he crashed his vehicle into two cars in Richmond, south west London on Sunday afternoon.

The troubled TV star looked sullen as he was pictured leaving his house for the first time the crash to make his way to Kingston Police Station.

McPartlin has reportedly given Donnelly his blessing to host Saturday Night Takeaway without him, with a source telling the Daily Mirror: “Dec wouldn’t go ahead without Ant giving him the OK.

“Because of their previous pact to work together throughout their career.”

Troubled: Ant McPartlin has been charged with drink-driving
John Stillwell/PA

Donnelly confirmed he will front the remaining episodes to honour the competition winners who have won a holiday to Orlando.

He said in a statement: “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.

Ant and Dec - In pictures

National Television Awards 2021 - London
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“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.”

The pair previously vowed to never fly solo insisting “neither one of us would ever be on our own out there”.

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