The REAL reason Little Ant and Dec are leaving Saturday Night Takeaway has been revealed

Oh dear! 😂

Author: Alex RossPublished 15th Feb 2018
Last updated 15th Feb 2018

Yesterday it was revealed that Little Ant and Dec (AKA Neil Overend and Haydn Reid) had quit their roles on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to focus on their studies, but now the 'real reason' has reportedly been revealed.

Popular duo Ant and Dec don't hide the fact that they aren't very tall, who can forget the 'small man' jokes on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here last year. But it seems that Little Ant and Dec have quite literally outgrown their roles, with reports suggesting they are nearly taller than their idols.

A source told the Daily Star, "Little Ant and Dec have outgrown the role, quite literally, and as such won't be returning to the show this year."

Neil (Little Ant) will be joining comprehensive school in September, with Haydn (Little Dec) focusing on his SATs later in the year.

The miniature duo have been major favourites of the show with viewers, but ITV have confirmed they have no plans to replace them for the upcoming series.

Neil and Haydn first joined the show in 2013, taking over from the original Little Ant and Dec, James Pallister and Dylan McKenna-Redshaw.

Yesterday, ITV delighted fans when they revealed Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway will be returning to our TV screens later this month.

Taking to Twitter to announce the news in a funny video, the show's official account wrote, 'It's official. We're back on the telly in just 10 days! 🙌 #Takeaway'. sic

It was later revealed that former X Factor star Olly Murs will be the first guest announcer of the new series.

As well as Ant and Dec, fellow Geordie Scarlett Moffatt will also be re-joining the show when the new series returns.

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway returns to ITV on Saturday 24th February.