Ant and Dec horrified as audience members laugh during tragic speech

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway returned to our screens for the first time after its year-long hiatus – but it didn’t all go smoothly.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were left “horrified” after audience laughed at the worst possible moment, while being distracted by the screen behind them.

The Geordie presenters returned to host the show on Saturday, February 22 following a year-long hiatus.

There was uncertainty about the shows future after Ant took a break from presenting to focus on his recovery.

To start the first episode of the series, the pair decided to give a family a wonderful surprise after their difficult year.

Revealing that there would be two people receiving a surprise tonight who were in the audience – Petra and Simon Williams, who were queuing outside the studio.

The pair had been told that tonight’s audience had been full but that if they hung around they might be able to get seats.

“What they don’t know is that we’ve actually saved two seats for them because we’re about to give them the surprise of their life,” Ant said.

Dec added: “That’s because they’re part of an extraordinary family. They live up in the north east and they’ve got three lovely kids – Amelia, Paige, Leyla Grace and Bailey.”

Ant continued: “Tragically three years ago they lost their daughter Darcey-Lee when she was just nine and a half weeks old.”

Dec looked stunned when the audience began laughing and the pair glanced behind them to see the big screen, and Dec realised the husband was helping his wife Petra pick her teeth.

Ant and Dec, horrified at audience as they begin to laugh during tragic story

“OK, let’s not concentrate on the picture for the moment,” Ant told the audience, sounding frustrated.

Later, it was revealed that the show had bought the couple a house, however fans were left cringing at the awkward moment.

One tweeted: “Well that wasn’t awkward at all, bad time to laugh Audience! #takeaway #saturdaynighttakeaway.”

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Samantha Day

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