Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway finale is now at risk with the news that Walt Disney World in Florida will shut down as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the world.
In a move that will also see Disneyland parks in California and Paris close for the rest of the month, Disney announced that most of the Disney resort in Orlando will close after Sunday, March 15, while the Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14.
Disney's statement read: "The Walt Disney company will pay its cast members during that period.
"The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open."
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the US continues to rise, ITV addressed the doubts surrounding Takeaway's Florida finale , which would see Ant & Dec presenting live from Disney World's Magic Kingdom, by saying: ""We continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation very carefully, including the latest expert guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and we will act in accordance with such guidance.
"We have contingencies in place for all eventualities based on any evolving situations.
"If we can't travel as planned, for example, due to a change in the Covid-19 travel advice, all recipients of a ‘Place on the Plane’ prize will have their prizes honoured and flown by Virgin Holidays for a 5-night stay at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida at such later date when it is practical for Virgin Holidays and Walt Disney World Resort to fulfil the prize."
Disney World is set to re-open at the end of the month and, if the re-opening goes ahead as planned, the Takeaway finale could go ahead, given it is set to take happen on Saturday, April 4.
