Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead without a studio audience this weekend as attempts to contain the coronavirus outbreak accelerate in the UK.

The show has already been forced to alter its plans this series, abandoning its usual live series finale from Florida after a travel ban was introduced around large parts of the world.

Now ITV have decided to air the remaining episodes of the current run without a studio audience, with Ant & Dec hosting live from the same studio at Television Centre with a reduced production crew.

"Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead this weekend without a studio audience," a spokesperson told The Sun. "Our priority is safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved.

"The show will be made with a reduced production crew and in accordance with the latest guidance from Public Health England. The team are looking forward to bringing our viewers a brilliant show on Saturday evening."

Fellow ITV show Loose Women has also dropped its studio audience for the foreseeable future.