Saturday Night Takeaway fans VERY distracted as Stephen Mulhern slips into ultra tight gold shorts

The much anticipated new series of Saturday Night Takeaway returned to screens this weekend, with hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 45,  serving up their usual dose of fun and frolics.

However, it was their co-star Stephen Mulhern who got everyone talking after arriving at the studio painted entirely in gold paint, and wearing a gold tank top and shorts – and showing off far more than he intended.

The presenter, 43, left viewers quite flustered and not knowing where to look with the tightness of his shorts, with some questioning on Twitter: ‘I thought this was a family show?’

Eye-popping look: Saturday Night Takeaway fans were left very distracted on Saturday as Stephen Mulhern slipped into ultra tight gold shorts that left little to the imagination

Stephen left Ant and Dec in hysterics when he turned up in his eye-popping gold ensemble to introduce the Ant Vs Dec tournament, and pretended to do a back flip with the help of a stunt double. 

He joked that he ‘said no’ to appearing on the show but ‘money talks’ before he showed off his painted-on abs to Ant and Dec, who couldn’t stop laughing at his attire for the evening.

Even Olly Alexander, who was the guest announcer for the show, joked that Stephen had upstaged him with his looks, even though the singer planned on changing his outfit every time there was a break.

Hilarious: Stephen left Ant and Dec in hysterics when he turned up in his eye-popping gold ensemble to introduce the Ant Vs Dec tournament

Hilarious: Stephen left Ant and Dec in hysterics when he turned up in his eye-popping gold ensemble to introduce the Ant Vs Dec tournament

And Stephen certainly did upstage everyone with his skintight ensemble that left very little to the imagination below the waistline, with the Catchphrase star causing quite the stir on social media.

‘Stephen Mulhern shorts are a little tight’ commented one viewer.

While another said: ‘You can almost see Stephen Mulhern changing his mind in those gold shorts.’

‘Christ Stephen this is a family show, hide the bulge’ exclaimed a third watcher.

Wow: The presenter, 43, left viewers quite flustered and not knowing where to look with the tightness of his shorts, with some questioning on Twitter: 'I thought this was a family show?'

Wow: The presenter, 43, left viewers quite flustered and not knowing where to look with the tightness of his shorts, with some questioning on Twitter: ‘I thought this was a family show?’

Ooh I say! Stephen upstaged everyone with his skintight ensemble that left very little to the imagination below the waistline, with the Catchphrase star causing quite the stir on social media.

Ooh I say! Stephen upstaged everyone with his skintight ensemble that left very little to the imagination below the waistline, with the Catchphrase star causing quite the stir on social media.

‘Erm I thought #SaturdayNightTakeaway was a family show or is it just me that’s noticed a certain thing about Stephen Mulhern’ asked a fourth. 

Another flustered fan tweeted: ‘stephen mulhern in those shorts. I don’t know where to look!’

‘Woah Stephen’s shorts leave nothing to the imagination lol!!’ exclaimed a sixth viewer.

With another simply writing: ‘I mean I was not expecting to see that much of Stephen Mulhern tonight.’

Reaction: Stephen left everyone talking after he appeared on the show in VERY tight shorts

Reaction: Stephen left everyone talking after he appeared on the show in VERY tight shorts

Luckily for viewers, Stephen opted to put on some trousers in the commercial break, with fans wondering whether it was because he realised he was showing too much. 

Saturday Night Takeaway made its triumphant return to the small screen, though some viewers slammed the ‘distracting’ audio problems. 

Opening the show with a bang, Ant and Dec came onto stage to the cheers of the 300-strong virtual crowd, as Gary Barlow and Beverly Knight performed on stage together.

Skills: The In For A Penny host did a 'backflip' with the help of a stunt double

Skills: The In For A Penny host did a ‘backflip’ with the help of a stunt double

Cracking up: Ant was beside himself over Stephen's eye-catching outfit

Cracking up: Ant was beside himself over Stephen’s eye-catching outfit

Gushing about being able to come back, Ant said they were ‘so excited to be back in the studio, things are going to be very different this year but its a privilege to bring you your Saturday Night Takeaway every week.’

Dec went on: ‘For the first time ever we can see into the living room live of 300 people all at the same time.’

Joking about how they didn’t want the audience to misbehave while they were at home, he added: ‘Please all be decent, please.’

It's back! Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway made its  triumphant return and the duo  gushed 'it's a privilege' to be able to bring the show back amid the coronavirus crisis

It’s back! Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway made its  triumphant return and the duo  gushed ‘it’s a privilege’ to be able to bring the show back amid the coronavirus crisis

Virtual: Ant and Dec came onto the stage to the cheers of the 300-strong virtual crowd

Virtual: Ant and Dec came onto the stage to the cheers of the 300-strong virtual crowd

Earlier on, the Geordie duo starred in an amusing black-and-white montage that saw them bored at home for days as they waited for the return of the show, trying to keep busy with puzzles and baking banana bread.  

Despite the joy the show brought to viewers, there were some who were unhappy with the sound of the virtual audience in the background and claimed the feedback was ‘distracting’ to hear.

The show was a star-studded affair, with the launch show seeing guests including Harry and Jamie Redknapp, It’s a Sin star Olly Alexander, Gary Barlow and Beverly Knight making an appearance. 

Jokers: Earlier on, the Geordie duo starred in an amusing black-and-white montage that saw them bored at home for days as they waited for the return of the show

Jokers: Earlier on, the Geordie duo starred in an amusing black-and-white montage that saw them bored at home for days as they waited for the return of the show