Ant and Dec have been spotted apparently filming for their brand new top-secret TV project, amid reports they are replacing ITV hit Saturday Night Takeaway.

In new photos, the pair were pictured on set, chatting with members of the crew and could be seen wrapping up warm as they film on the outdoors location in London for their mystery TV show. Ant could be seen wearing a grey cropped shacket and jeans for the shoot, looking in high spirits as he joked around with co-star Dec and other members of the crew. Dec wore a brown suede jacket and dark trousers with smart trainers.

Ant and Dec felt it was the right time to finish Saturday Night Takeaway ( 
Image:
Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Although no details have been officially confirmed about their new project, the 48-year-old pair were known to have trademarked the name Belta Box – potentially a nod to Newcastle slang. It was lodged by Mitre Studios – Ant and Dec’s production company – in April, the same month their ITV favourite Saturday Night Takeaway ended for good. The trademark covers TV, radio, online, podcasts and merch too.

A source told the Mirror: “Everything Ant and Dec does turns to gold and this is sure to be another success.” Mitre Studios also owns trademarks for Ant and Dec’s ITV game show Limitless Win and online show Taste Mates. The firm said: “Taste Mates and Belta Box are digital projects that will tap into the Mitre core values of being fun and engaging.”

Ant and Dec revealed their long-running TV show Saturday Night Takeaway was going on hiatus after 22 years and over 130 episodes, blindsiding fans when they news was announced that it would be over in 2024. The pair got emotional when they made on appearance on This Morning, chatting to hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about their farewell. Dec said: “When we first came to the decision to rest it – and we did it because 20 series feels like a good time to do it – we told our management first. We said, ‘We want to rest it but we reserve the right between now and then to change our minds several times,’ and we have. But I think we know in our heart of hearts it’s the right thing to do.”

Ant agreed, adding: “For the show and for us personally, it’s the right thing at the right time.”

Viewers watched the most recent season between February and Apil and were able to enter competitions. The live studio audience was dragged into incredible game show sketches, and fans got emotional by the Happiest Minute Of The Week in which the presenters gifted several good Samaritans with wild prizes.

However, on 13 April, the show came to an end. Last year, they explained their reasoning, with Ant telling fans: “We love making Saturday Night Takeaway, but reaching the milestone of 20 series seemed like the perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath.”