Fans call out Stephen Merchant for Simon Cowell face joke on Saturday Night Takeaway that was 'too far'

Comedian Stephen Merchant has this week been accused by Saturday Night Takeaway viewers of taking a joke 'too far' by poking fun at his face.

Following the X Factor boss's appearance on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway last night, thousands of viewers took to social media to comment on his facial structure.

"Is that definitely Simon Cowell?" one asked.

Another tweeted: "Simon Cowell looks more and more like a cartoon every time I see him."

While another said they weren't sure if he had 'aged gracefully'.

As well as viewers at home, however, Simon's fellow ITV guest, comedy star Stephen also took the opportunity to make fun of the father-of-one's appearance on the Saturday night talk-show.

It began with much-loved Geordie presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly showing viewers in the audience a clip of Simon being pulled over by fake police while on his bike in Malibu.

ITV

Once the hilarious video had come to an end, however, 49-year-old Stephen - also known for having appeared in The Office - commented: "I didn't like it... I loved it. That was my Simon impression it wasn't very convincing because my face moved."

Whilst the joke got a few laughs from several audience members, it seemingly went down like a lead balloon with viewers at home, who hit out at Stephen for his unwarranted comment over Simon's looks.

Tweeting a meme of Friends' Joey Tribbiani saying 'Over the line, you're so far past the line that you can't even see the line', one wrote: "Stephen Merchant’s comment on Simon Cowell. Yikes".

Another penned: "Not Stephen Merchant shading Simon Cowell"

A third demanded: "What did Stephen Merchant say about Simon Cowell?!"

While a final said that Merchant had 'proper mugged' Cowell then.

Tyla has contacted Merchant's reps for comment.

Last year, Simon, 64, was denied he'd had had a face-lift after Ant and Dec teased him over his 'new face'.

ITV

Dec told the audience at the time: "We have a new face joining the judging panel."

"What? Simon has a new face?" Ant then quipped in response.

Chatting to The Mirror in the weeks that followed the interaction, however, Simon seemed to take the joke like water off a duck's back.

"I think it's hysterical. I mean, it just makes me laugh. I haven't had a facelift or anything. I've had a bit of Botox or whatever, but nothing drastic," he joked.

"So when I hear about this stuff, honestly it does make me laugh."