Ant and Dec interview Mo Farah over text as they urge viewers to have better quality conversations

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly unveil the return of ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign as they urge viewers to ‘just chat’ after attempting to interview Mo Farah by TEXTING him

Ant and Dec unveiled the return of ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign during a Saturday Night Takeaway segment this weekend.

In a bid to highlight the importance of having better quality conversations, the Geordie duo, both 45, staged a stumbling Q&A with Olympian Mo Farah, by attempting to interview him through text messages.

Ant and Dec then explained the segment demonstrated the positive effects verbal communication has on our mental wellbeing, and urged followers to put their phones down and ‘just talk.’  

Important: Ant and Dec unveiled the return of ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign during a Saturday Night Takeaway segment this weekend 

The segment saw Ant and Dec kick off their interview with Mo by sending messages from their phones, even though he was only sat a few metres away. 

As words started to get lost in translation, the pair picked up on the unnatural nature of the chat and suggested to Mo it would be better if they just talked.  

They went on to explain how we’re living through a mental health emergency and many of us could use a proper heart to heart, whether it be on the phone, or socially-distanced in person. 

Awkward: In a bid to highlight the importance of having better quality conversations, the Geordie duo staged a stumbling Q&A with Olympian Mo Farah

Awkward: In a bid to highlight the importance of having better quality conversations, the Geordie duo staged a stumbling Q&A with Olympian Mo Farah

Let's chat! As words started to get lost in translation, the pair picked up on the unnatural nature of the chat and suggested to Mo it would be better if they just talked

Let’s chat! As words started to get lost in translation, the pair picked up on the unnatural nature of the chat and suggested to Mo it would be better if they just talked

The presenters, who have supported Britain Get Talking since they launched it in 2019, said: ‘We are really proud to support the Britain Get Talking campaign which has already encouraged millions of people to connect.

‘This latest part of the campaign is a reminder to think about, not just how much we’re chatting, but what kind of conversations they are. After the year everyone’s had, the message of Britain Get Talking couldn’t be more important.’

Of looking after our mental health during the coronavirus pandemic, Susie Braun, Head of Strategy for ITV Social Purpose, said in a statement: ‘Connecting with other people is one of the best ways we can look after our mental wellbeing.

‘Britain Get Talking has got millions of people to have a chat since it first launched – so in this next campaign we’re focusing on not just quantity but quality too. A good conversation can make the world of difference, especially after the tough year we’ve all had.’

Needed: They went on to explain how we're living through a mental health emergency and many of us could use a proper heart to heart

Needed: They went on to explain how we’re living through a mental health emergency and many of us could use a proper heart to heart

The Britain Get Talking first launched in October 2019 and is part of ITV’s ongoing campaign to help the public do what they can to look after their mental health.

As a result, 2.8 million people began a conversation or had more meaningful talks with their family and friends thanks to the campaign.

Britain Get Talking continues to be the UK’s most recognised mental health campaign.

Important cause: The presenters, who have supported Britain Get Talking since they launched it in 2019, said: 'We are really proud to support the Britain Get Talking campaign'

Important cause: The presenters, who have supported Britain Get Talking since they launched it in 2019, said: ‘We are really proud to support the Britain Get Talking campaign’

Ant and Dec later showed Mo’s hilarious participation in their Get Out Of Me Ear sketch where he had to lie down in an ice bath while giving a tour of his bathroom to unbeknownst guests.

The popular Saturday Night Takeaway segment follows a series of celebrities as they are instructed to carry out often embarrassing tasks, which are instructed by the presenters through an ear piece.

The current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan and Jon Courtenay – to name a few.

The final comes after ITV revealed on Tuesday that the programme has raked in a hugely impressive 8.5 million viewers across the show.

Goodbyes: The current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan and Jon Courtenay - to name a few

Goodbyes: The current series went out with a bang as they had guest appearances from Mo, David Guetta, Fleur East, Mo Gilligan and Jon Courtenay – to name a few