ant and dec‘s Saturday night takeaway was hit with backlash Saturday night when viewers were unimpressed by a baby scan prank featuring an expectant father.
Liam, a serial prankster, was pranked in the first episode of the new series by wife Amy in conjunction with the presenting duo.
Amy enlisted the help of Ant and Dec to get revenge on Liam for playing pranks on her, with the pair having a fake baby scan, prenatal class and also a fake family photo shoot after their son Finley was born.
The scan scene played a video of a baby that wasn’t Liam and Amy’s making rock star signs as the song Bohemian Rhapsody came on and waved too.
The bizarre sketch also saw the child playing hide and seek, leaving Liam puzzled.
‘Such bad taste’: Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway baby scan joke about father-to-be was hit with backlash Saturday night as viewers were unimpressed
Pranksters: Ant and Dec watched and listened in, speaking into microphones as the chaos unfolded at the baby scan
However, some fans of the show revealed that the prank left a bad taste in their mouths, and took to Twitter to say the skit was not appropriate or appreciated.
One person wrote, “No sorry the parents #SaturdayNightTakeaway skit at the scan is just a little mean.
“As someone who has been trying for a baby for 13 years, my absolute dream is to be at a scan. You don’t get such important personal experiences in life.
‘Not nice. Even if you are a “prankster”.
Another added, “Love Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, but the baby scan joke wasn’t cool.”
A third said, “What bad taste for Saturday night takeout to play a prank on a baby scan.”
And one separate person wrote, “I totally agree… disgusting” in response to another unimpressed tweet about the skit.
Meanwhile, someone else said: ‘The photo shoot is quite funny, it can be done over and over again. But that 4D scan being screwed up really makes me feel uncomfortable.
‘Especially when you know how easily things can go wrong during a pregnancy.’
Getting her own back: Liam, a serial prankster, was pranked by wife Amy in partnership with Ant and Dec
Unusual: The scan scene played a video of a baby that wasn’t Liam and Amy’s making rock star signs as the song Bohemian Rhapsody came on
Not happy: However, some fans of the show were annoyed by the joke and took to Twitter to say the sketch was not appropriate or appreciated
But not everyone was annoyed by the joke, and some viewers took to Twitter to reveal that they thought it was funny.
One person said, ‘People are getting offended by the joke, now people are whining about the balloons…my god just shut up and enjoy it!!
“Why do people have to suck the life out of everything, it’s boring.”
Another wrote: “Shut up all you snowflakes whining about ant and fabrications. It’s called laughing, which you’re not allowed to do now, if you’re not happy, just stop.”
A third added, “He literally thought it was funny,” in response to a frustrated tweet about the skit.
And another person said, ‘Just be happy for the couple and the beautiful baby. We all go through shit.
“So don’t be bitter about everything.”
At the end of the prank segment, Ant and Dec revealed to the Amy and Liam that they had opened a children’s savings account for Finley and were depositing £1,000 a year into it until he turned 18.
Funny: While not everyone was annoyed by the joke, some viewers took to Twitter to reveal that they thought it was funny
Sinister: Alison Hammond, who joked in a previous series that Ant and Dec wouldn’t be able to fool her, ate her words after being left terrified by a hotel undercover skit
Just before the surprise reveal, Jordan North drove Liam and Amy into the studio in a golf cart and told them he had made seven attempts to pass his driving test.
And in true chaotic style, he crashed the buggy into the curb and finally managed to get them safely to the studio.
The entertainment show’s highly anticipated return also saw Doctor Who legend David Tennant appear as each guest’s announcer.
And Alison Hammond, who joked in an earlier series that Ant and Dec wouldn’t be able to fool her, ate her words after being left terrified by a hotel skit.
The duo orchestrated the funny plan that made Alison sure she was in a haunted hotel.
Entering a bedroom, she screamed as the goings-on turned sinister and the sassy presenting couple came to surprise her.
Elsewhere, Ant and Dec went head to head in an outdoor balloon challenge hosted by Stephen Mulhern.
And during the happiest minute of the week, viewers were left in tears as they watched countless people win “A Place On The Plane” for the series finale at Universal Orlando.
Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway continues on Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.