The channel had already announced that Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway was being cancelled this weekend and replaced with The Voice UK in an earlier time slot.
Following that, producers have decided to air an episode of Through The Keyhole at 9pm.
Yet viewers have been left with mixed feelings about the network’s choice to air Fast and Furious 5 at 10.15pm, claiming the decision is “insensitive”.
The film’s premise is exactly what the title says on the tin – racing fast cars in the middle of a high-octane adventure – which some believe is much too close to home given Ant’s accident on Sunday.
The television presenter allegedly lost control of his black Mini before causing a three-car pileup.
With the news still fresh, viewers took to Twitter to express their shock at ITV’s schedule shake-up.
One person wrote: “Without irony ITV have scheduled the film Fast and Furious for Saturday night!”
“So Ant gets caught drink driving and #ITV helps fill the void of #SaturdayNightTakeaway with Fast and Furious 5. Couldn’t make this stuff up,” another fan posted.
A third slammed: So Saturday Night take away is cancelled and they’re showing Fast and Furious instead! Well done ITV.”
While one confused viewer asked: “ITV have replaced #SaturdayNightTakeaway and put Fast and Furious 5 in the time slot due to Ant’s drink driving, is that a joke?”
“Was Fast & Furious scheduled on Saturday ITV1 before they dropped Saturday Night Takeaway? Because if not that’s a bit of a c*** up, no,” another added.
However, the film was always on the schedule, but was originally meant to air at 10.45pm and has simply been brought forward by 30 minutes instead.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby finally spoke out about their Ant’s arrest during This Morning today, acknowledging it was “very hard” to talk about.
Phil began: “This is difficult for us talking about a friend here. Like many people, we are shocked and saddened by this incident involving Ant.”
Saturday Night Takeaway is still billed to finish off the series’ final two episodes on March 31 and April 7, but it remains to be seen if Dec Donnelly will carry the show alone or more changes will be made.
