The 'unsung hero' of Saturday Night Takeaway

Ant and Dec said warm-up man Andy Collins was as important to the success of Saturday Night Takeaway as anyone who had appeared on screen

Presenters Ant and Dec have described their warm-up man as the "unsung hero" of their Saturday Night Takeaway show as it takes a break after 22 years.

Andy Collins, 53, who has worked on the show since it begun in 2002, said his job was to "whip the crowd into a frenzy" in the hour before it was broadcast live.

Declan Donnelly told the BBC that Collins was "a genuine unsung hero of the show’s success" while Ant McPartlin said he "gets the party rocking".

The warm-up man, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said he would miss the programme, adding: "I will go home and be gutted."

Andy Collins has been friends with Ant and Dec since their 1999 show Friends Like These

He said: "I've grown up working on that show, we've had ups and downs and I've made some really good friendships."

Collins, who has also presented a breakfast show on BBC Three Counties Radio since 2016, said: "I think we've all grown up together, we've all got older, and some of us have got bigger because the catering's so good."

He left school when he was 15, joined the navy at 16 and, when he returned to civilian life in his 20s, began to learn his craft performing in holiday camps.

"I got a phone call from somebody, they needed a children's warm-up and asked if I had done it before. I lied - got the job," he laughed.

Collins worked as a warm-up man on shows including Gladiators, GamesMaster and Blind Date in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"If you had a prime-time show and you wanted it to be good, you booked me," he said.

"That sounds incredibly big-headed. Don't get me wrong; I had to work hard to build up that reputation. I had to make sacrifices."

Collins continues to provide warm-up for big shows such as Britain's Got Talent, The Jonathan Ross Show and Ant and Dec's Limitless Win.

Andy Collins has been a TV warm-up man for over 30 years

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has drawn millions of viewers every week since its launch.

Collins believes that success is down to how it appeals to the whole family.

"It is the very few shows that you can watch with your mum, your dad, your nan, your granddad, your uncle Brian and your auntie Irene," he said.

It has also attracted big guests for its features, including elaborate pranks played on Simon Cowell, a live performance by Robbie Williams and a special appearance from Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.

"When we have the punters on, Joe Public, they're as important as Luke Skywalker, and that's the gift - that's the joy of the show," said Collins.

Andy Collins has worked on shows alongside James Corden (pictured), Jonathan Ross and the late Paul O'Grady

Collins first met the Geordie presenting duo when he did the warm-up for their 1999 BBC One show Friends Like These.

The father-of-two said: "They are very good friends; we go on golfing holidays. Over those 20 years we have stuck together as friends.

"I think friendship and loyalty are very important and we don't take that for granted.

"Not just the boys - the crew, the cast... not just the celebs, Alan Conley, you won't know them, they work behind the scenes but it is real good friendships and [with the show ending] that's gone now."

Collins (left) said the ITV show had given him lifelong friendships with Ant and Dec (centre) but also behind-the-scenes talent such as Alan Conley (right)

Collins also attributes the success of the ITV show to how hard the duo work, not just as presenters but also as producers.

He said: "The boys are very professional, they work hard and they expect you to work hard, so I take criticism from them very seriously.

"Series four, show five, Ant said to me 'That audience was a bit flat' and I decided that will never happen again.

"We are now on series 20 and I make sure that audience is never flat.

"I'm very critical about this show, more than any other show. I watch the dress rehearsals and I watch it as a punter so [Ant and Dec] watch for my reactions."

Saturday Night Takeaway has won numeous awards including a Bafta in 2022 for Best Entertainment Programme

Ant and Dec told the BBC how important Collins had been to the show.

McPartlin said: “Andy has been integral to the show's success over the years.

"The Saturday Night Takeaway audiences are unique as everyone comes to have a party on a Saturday night. Andy understands this completely and gets the party rocking!"

Reflecting on the last 20 years, Donnelly added: “He’s been there since day one and been as important to the show's success as anyone who has appeared on screen.

"He’s a genuine unsung hero of the show’s success and we’d like to keep it that way because we think he will get a terribly big head and put his rates up.”

McPartlin joked: "He’s a great warm-up guy, a great friend but terrible golfer."