Contestant Claims She Was 'Cheated' After Row with Ant and Dec on Live TV Show
A participant from the popular ITV programme Saturday Night Takeaway has exclusively revealed that she still feels "cheated" out of a significant prize, following a memorable and humorous argument with hosts Ant and Dec during a live broadcast. Sarah North, who competed in the show's Banned Words challenge, described the incident as both surreal and frustrating, as she disputed the interpretation of the game's rules on national television.
The Banned Words Challenge Dispute
During the challenge, contestants must describe images displayed on screen while avoiding three specific forbidden terms and the actual name of the object. Sarah was assisting her teammate Mark in guessing a traffic cone, carefully avoiding the banned words orange, hazard, and road. She initially described the object as "stripy" and then explained that it appears "when there is traffic".
At this point, Ant and Dec immediately paused the game, asserting that Sarah had violated the regulations because "traffic" forms part of the answer "traffic cone". However, Sarah protested vigorously, arguing that "traffic" was not among the three explicitly forbidden terms listed for the challenge.
On-Air Argument and Audience Reaction
"It's a traffic cone, if it's the thing then it's a banned word," Ant clarified during the exchange. When Sarah persisted in her objections, Dec emphasised, stating: "But it's the title of the thing." The amusing dispute drew chuckles from the studio audience, with Dec humorously remarking, "Let's not argue about it Sarah!" to defuse the tension.
Despite the lively debate, Sarah ultimately secured £500 for her efforts, though she narrowly missed winning a getaway prize. Reflecting on the incident, she humorously claimed she remains "cheated" by the outcome, believing she was unfairly penalised during the challenge.
Behind the Scenes and Personal Reflections
After filming wrapped, Sarah spoke briefly with Dec backstage, where he laughed and said, "I can't believe you argued on TV." She added, "I still think I was in the right. I was cheated out of my place on the plane," laughing about the experience. Sarah, who runs Happy Ham, a personalised products business, also shared her admiration for the iconic presenting duo.
"They were exactly as you expect them to be. I'm from Newcastle so Byker Grove was a part of growing up. I even once got out of school early to go to a PJ and Duncan CD signing in HMV," she recalled. "When you have grown up watching them, it is then surreal being with them as you forget you don't actually know them."
Ant and Dec's Television Legacy
The presenting pair decided to take a break from Saturday Night Takeaway in 2024, following two decades on air. Prior to the concluding series, Ant and Declared they were going "out with a bang". Having achieved the remarkable 20-year milestone, they noted it was the "perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath".
The dynamic duo continue to grace television screens with their other popular programmes, including I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Britain's Got Talent, ensuring their enduring presence in British entertainment. Britain's Got Talent airs tonight at 6.45pm on ITV and ITVX.
