Re-branded as 'The Best Time Ever', the Geordie duo will be there to help Harris to present the first show on NBC in September.
British presenting veterans Ant & Dec are to make a return to US television after their failed attempt to launch their career Stateside seven years ago.
NBC is launching a rebranded version of the Geordie duo’s early evening favourite ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ in America with the title ‘The Best Time Ever’, to be presented by Neil Patrick Harris. However, Harris has revealed that he’s asked Ant & Dec to help him present the first show next month.
Neil Patrick Harris will be fronting a U.S. version of Ant & Dec's perennial favourite 'Saturday Night Takeaway'
The pair – real names Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – will be jetting to New York for rehearsals and a test show before the series starts on September 15th.
42 year old Harris, who starred in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ for nine seasons between 2005 and 2014 and hosted this year’s Oscars ceremony, said in a statement “We are doing a test show the week before we launch and then we will do our first live show. Ant and Dec are coming over for that. They are going to come and be a part of it. They are the loveliest guys you’ll ever meet.”
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Ant & Dec’s American debut back in 2008, hosting a game show called ‘Wanna Bet?’, ended in ignominy when it was axed after just six shows. However, US TV industry insiders reckon they might have a better shot at it this time around alongside an established heavyweight like Harris, who reckons that the format will do well in the States.
“Ant and Dec have been doing the show for 12 seasons in the UK and they just won two BAFTAs back to back, so it’s a well-oiled machine. We’re not going out on a limb here,” he said. ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ regularly draws over 10 million viewers weekly for ITV, so if ever there was a vehicle for the pair to crack America, one would feel that this is it.
Speaking about what attracted him to get involved with the launch of ‘The Best Time Ever’, Harris says it was his guest spot on the British show earlier this year. “They had a post-show wrap party with everyone and there weren’t VIP-sectioned corners for different people. I think this speaks to how nice they are. They all stayed and drank and had a great time, there was a very positive vibe.”
“It’s about me including the audience and going along on an hour of ridiculousness and random adventures,” he explained. Rumoured guests for the first clutch of episodes include Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
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