Stephen Mulhern says Saturday Night Takeaway could return next year with Ant and Dec after presenters are spotted meeting with their management in London
STEPHEN Mulhern has hinted Saturday Night Takeaway could return next year with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
The TV star said he "hoped" the popular ITV show would be back on screens in 2019 as the Geordie pair were seen having a meeting with their management about their plans to reunite.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, he told us: "They haven't said yet. I really hope it does because it's such a good show.
"And being part of it was an absolute result.
"I've got every single thing crossed that it does come back. Because it deserves to."
Stephen presents the show's In For a Penny segment and also revealed how he had just finished filming the standalone spin-off, which was the brainchild of his friends Ant and Dec.
Stephen, 41, said: "Ant and Dec came up with the idea for Saturday Night Takeaway.
"Then it just seemed to get momentum over the series. We only actually recorded four segments, which amounted to about 16 minutes in total.
"But for something that was so small, it seemed to play so big in the public. ITV said 'listen it's gone down so well, we think it should go down as a series'.
"We made a pilot in Southend and they loved it, so then they commissioned an entire series which we've just finished doing.
"There's seven episodes, which will come out next year, and honestly I think it's the best show I've ever, ever worked on."
The Britain's Got More Talent and Catchphrase star has also partnered with Virgin TV for their competition, which is giving primary schools across the UK the chance to have their Christmas play narrated by him.
Stephen recently enjoyed a night out with pal Ant's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong amid her court battle with the presenter.
It comes after Ant and Dec looked sombre after having a meeting about their plans to reunite on screen next year.
The pair were last together on TV in May, when Ant appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in pre-recorded scenes.
Earlier this year, The Sun exclusively revealed how Ant would be taking an extended break from the spotlight.
His drink-drive arrest in March, and his subsequent stay in rehab, saw him take the decision to step back from work.
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The highly anticipated 20th anniversary of SMTV Live was cancelled and Dec, 43, was forced to work solo for the first time.
Fans of the Geordie duo feared Ant would never work again but now, after his extended screen break, the pair are keen to thrash out how their reunion could work.
An insider told The Sun Online: “Ant’s wellbeing is at the forefront of everyone’s minds and he’s in a great place.
“But now they are trying to work out how his comeback will plan out and how everything will work.”
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