STEPHEN Mulhern is expected to make a return to Saturday Night Takeaway for the final ever episode.

The 47-year-old pulled out of last night’s show with Ant and Dec at the last minute after taking unwell.

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Stephen Mulhern was missing from Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night TakeawayCredit: Rex

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Hosts Ant and Dec will host their final show next weekend
ITV has confirmed that Stephen is still set to take part in the last ever episode of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in a special two-hour Farewell Spectacular next Saturday.

The Geordie duo are shelving their ITV smash hit variety show after 22 years.

However, TV host Stephen, 47, missed out on being part of the live showing after informing ITV producers he was not up to going in to the West London studios.

Bosses confirmed to The Sun on Sunday Stephen would be absent, but would not discuss the nature of his illness.

His withdrawal meant presenting duo Ant and Dec, both 48, had to rewrite his segment to ­feature I’m A Celeb winner ­Jordan North, 34, instead.

Last night, This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary got their own back on Ant by taking over the show’s famous prank – I’m A Celebrity Get Out of My Ear: The Revenge.

Talking of the decision for the first time to end Saturday Night Takeaway’s epic run, Ant McPartlin, 48, said: “We just thought it was the perfect time with series 20.

“It seemed a natural point to pause, celebrate, take a break, look back and reflect on how we want the show to look in future.”

Declan Donnelly, also 48, added: “You can’t do that while the show is on air because it’s such an all-year-round process, filming the Undercovers, Get Out Of Me Ear and the public pranks.

“We felt you need to come off air for a pause before you can decide what you want to do with it.

Stephen Mulhern makes a triumphant return to Saturday Night Takeaway after illness
“We’re giving it a rest for now but, after 20 series, we’ll take away some incredibly special moments and memories.

“We will certainly miss it.”

The pair have since revealed their plans to “take over ITV” for the final ever episode of Saturday Night Takeaway.

Speaking on the show, Dec said: “Next week is your last episode of your Saturday Night Takeaway.

“But the good news is it’s a live two-hour extravaganza, basically it’s going to be the mother of all parties.

We’re taking over the whole of television centre.”

Ant then continued: “It’s going to be absolutely epic, we’ve got a super singalong live with Tony Hadley, we’ve got 7 Club, Kaiser Chiefs.”

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Ant and Dec on last night’s Saturday Night Takeaway