I think Ant and Dec did the right thing resting this show for a few years. Towards the end of it's first long run (around 2009) things were getting a bit stale and the items on the show a bit dull (escape from Takeaway prison being a low point). You can have too much of a good thing and I think the show and perhaps all involved needed to go on to other things.
However, fast forward to 2013 and the show was back with a new energy, new bits of fun and games and it was like welcoming back an old friend. Ant and Dec won awards, scored a number one record and all was well.
This latest series (2014) hasn't been quite as good but the standard remains very high. Long may it continue.