A family had a joyous reunion on live TV last night.

Margate resident Michael Hill, who has been away working in Afghanistan, was brought back in a surprise on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

The family, from Hartsdown, won golden tickets to Disneyland and will feature in the final episode of the series.

Wife Nicola and her children were secretly filmed as Michael, who has not seen them since last year, walked into the living room.

Mrs Hill leapt into his arms and the couple’s two boys were left ecstatic.

The stunned wife and children had watched the surprise unfold on the TV as Ant McPartlin announced: “Nicola Hill, your husband’s working in Afghanistan and your kids haven’t seen their dad since last year.

"Now, we think you all deserve places on a plane. Now guess what? Who’s here to deliver the tickets? It’s you dad!”

Co-host Declan Donnelly seemed taken over by emotion as he yelled out: “Stop, stop. How lovely is that?”

The family will fly out to Disneyland in time for the the filming of the show’s season finale.