Ant McPartlin beamed as he arrived for another round of Britain’s Got Talent auditions at the London Palladium on Wednesday, hours after his controversial NTAs win.
The television presenter, 43, had a spring in his step as he joined his co-star Declan Donnelly and the four judges; Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon to film scenes for the new series.
Ant appeared to brush off any negativity swirling his NTA Best Presenter win, after a swarm of fans slammed his victory due to him taking a lengthy hiatus from TV screens following his drink-drive arrest in March.
Over the moon: Ant McPartlin beamed as he arrived for another round of Britain’s Got Talent auditions at the London Palladium on Wednesday, hours after his big NTAs win
Ant was casually-clad in a blue flannel checked shirt, jeans and Nike trainers.
He wrapped up in a cobalt blue quilted jacket and donned a dapple grey flat-cap.
The Geordie star waved at fans as he exited his grey Range Rover and headed inside the Palladium.
Controversial: The presenter has been the subject of huge backlash after he won the Best Presenter gong with his partner Declan Donnelly at Tuesday’s National Television Awards
Jubilant: The television presenter, 43, had a spring in his step as he joined his co-star Declan Donnelly to film scenes for the new series
Low-key look: Ant was casually-clad in a blue flannel checked shirt, jeans and Nike trainers
Joyous: The Geordie star waved to fans as he exited his Range Rover and made his way inside the theatre
Dapper: He wrapped up in a cobalt blue quilted jacket and donned a dapple grey flat-cap
The auditions come a day after, the embattled presenter walked away victorious at the NTAs for the eighteenth year running.
Following his win, Twitter was swarmed with reaction, with some viewers hitting out at his win due to the fact he had taken a break however others lauded the star for his win, with one user writing: ‘We are all more than our mistakes or failures’.
The duo were unable to collect the gong in person due to a scheduling conflict with the forthcoming series of BGT.
Auditions for the long-running talent show kicked off at London Palladium in January, with Ant returning to work seven months after his second spell in residential rehabilitation, where he received treatment for substance and alcohol abuse issues.
Undefeated: On Tuesday night, the embattled presenter walked away victorious at the NTAs for the eighteenth year running
In the midst of his recovery, Ant stunned fans when he was arrested for drink-driving while in his car with his mum where he hit a car containing a four-year-old who was hospitalised, leading to a £86,000 fine and a 20 month driving ban.
The presenter has spent much of the year focusing on his recovery, resulting in close friend Dec hosting the final episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway – including a live finale shot on location in Florida – alone.
Despite their delight, viewers were divided by Ant and Dec’s win as some claimed they did not deserve it due to Ant’s recent presenting break.
Happy days: Ant McPartlin has been the subject of huge backlash after he won the Best Presenter gong with his partner Declan Donnelly at Tuesday’s National Television Awards
Not impressed: Despite their delight viewers were divided by Ant and Dec’s win as some claimed they did not deserve it due to Ant’s recent presenting break
Enraged Twitter users took to the social media site to pen: ‘Ant and Dec win an award when one of them hasn’t worked for a year? Goes to show what a fix the #NTAs awards are! The height of ridiculousness…
‘Imagine how @hollywills feels, two shows that she presented won last night but she didn’t even win best presenter! Ant & Dec winning it every year is just getting awkward now. #NTAs… NTAs 2019: Ant and Dec emotional after best presenter win…
‘This is ridiculous. A drunk driver who has not been on TV for the year. #NTAAwards… Seems like the ‘tv voting public’ has no issues with drink driving then???…
‘Ant and Dec emotional after best presenter win. Are you kidding? You cause a crash – drunk driving, putting a CHILD in danger- take a holiday for a year, not work and then get an award? What is wrong with people?You should be in prison!’
Happy days: While Twitter was swarmed with reaction, some hit out at his win due to the fact he had taken a break however others lauded the star, 43, for his win
Impressed: One wrote: ‘Classic family entertainment! @antanddec The kids love it, grandparents love it and they seem to make everyone#NTA2019 #entertainment’
While some were angered by the win, others praised the star as fans of Ant wrote: ‘Classic family entertainment! @antanddec The kids love it, grandparents love it and they seem to make everyone#NTA2019 #entertainment…
‘Congratulations to Ant and Dec for there award last night. After a tough year for them this confirms that we are all more than our mistakes or failures…
‘In life we have more success than we acknowledge. Accept that a mistake or failure doesn’t define you. #Motivation #NTAs’.
In the midst of the backlash, the official account for Ant and Dec shared a defiant message detailing why he was eligible for the win.
The message read: ‘To those of you who are hating: Ant McPartlin hosted all 6 of the @BGT audition episodes last year & 3 of the @ITVTakeaway live shows, so he is eligible & they both deserve it. #NTAs.’
Shocker: In the midst of the backlash, the official account for Ant and Dec shared a defiant message detailing why he was eligible for the win
Ant made his sidekick cry when he insisted he couldn’t accept the award and the one reason the duo won was because of Dec’s ‘determination’.
In the clip, Ant said: ‘This is a genuine shock especially this year. I’m shaking! We want to say thank you to everybody. I really don’t feel like I can accept it, the one reason we won this award was this guy, his wit his determination, I love you pal.’
Piers Morgan meanwhile has previously claimed that he would take a year off if Ant and Dec won Best TV presenters at the NTAs – after which he told Good Morning Britain viewers on Wednesday that he was ‘livid’ with the outcome the next day.
He said: ‘It was Ant McPartlin’s speech that really cemented it for me. You mean, seriously, he hasn’t been on TV for a year. The only time he gets out of bed in the morning is to walk the dog!
Shocker: Ant made his sidekick cry when he insisted he couldn’t accept the award (pictured outside Wimbledon Magistrates Court on April 16 after his sentencing for drink-driving)