Covid-stricken Ant and Dec have taken to social media to celebrate their NTAs win – saying that the gong has made them feel ‘so much better’ during their illness which forced them to miss the ceremony.
The ‘grateful’ Geordie duo, 46 and 47, said upon their 21st win that their awards are ‘never taken for granted’ – amid backlash online over them scooping the gong every year.
They joined winners Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield and Anton Du Beke celebrating on social media after scooping various the Best Daytime and Best Judge gongs.
Happy: Covid-stricken Ant and Dec have taken to social media to celebrate their NTAs win – saying that the gong has made them feel ‘so much better’ during their illness (pictured last year winning)
Stars: The ‘grateful’ Geordie duo, 46 and 47, said upon their 21st win that they their awards are ‘never taken for granted’ – amid backlash online over them scooping the gong ever year
Holly and Phil – who were booed at the event – have also been criticised for getting the Daytime award again as viewers demand the winners are ‘freshened up’ next year.
Stephen Mulhern picked up the Best Presenter gong on behalf of Ant and Dec as they recover and jokingly ripped up the speech the pair had written for him to say while on stage.
In response to their win Ant and Dec tweeted: ‘Oi, it took ages to write that speech!!! Thank you SO much for voting for us, it is always appreciated and never taken for granted. You’ve made us feel tons better! Huge love D #NTAs #NTA2022.’
Another post read: ‘Oi Mulhern!! I’m watching you from home. Keep that award safe and we will see you at work soon (if you’re lucky!)
Yay! They join winners Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield (pictured) and Anton Du Beke celebrating on social media after scooping various the Best Daytime and Best Judge gongs
Thrilled: Sharing a beaming snap with co-presenter Phillip, Holly she wrote: ‘Thank you… holy moly… we love you… @thismorning … you are the best team, you work so hard to make the show what it is…’
‘A huge thank you to everyone who voted for us. From the bottom of our ♡ we are so so grateful. love ya’s! A.’
Elsewhere Holly celebrated her Best Daytime gong for This Morning on social media.
Sharing a beaming snap with co-presenter Phillip Schofield she wrote: ‘Thank you… holy moly… we love you… @thismorning … you are the best team, you work so hard to make the show what it is…
Celebrating: Phillip wrote in his post: ‘I love you Holly and our entire This Morning family Thank YOU for every single vote cos we love you the most x’
‘We want to thank each and every one of you for voting… you have made this night an absolute dream… thank you also @officialntas for having us… @joeldommett you are a class act… ♥️.’
Phillip wrote in his post: ‘I love you Holly and our entire This Morning family Thank YOU for every single vote cos we love you the most x’.
Meanwhile Anton, 56, shared a picture celebrating with a glass of champagne after winning the Best Judge award.
Having a drink! Meanwhile Anton, 56, shared a picture celebrating with a glass of champagne after winning the Best Judge award
Kind words: He wrote in his caption: ‘Wow! For once I was almost stuck for words. Thank you so much for voting. I finally actually won something! #ntas2022 Thank you @bbcstrictly and @sarahjamesface’
He wrote in his caption: ‘Wow! For once I was almost stuck for words. Thank you so much for voting. I finally actually won something! #ntas2022 Thank you @bbcstrictly and @sarahjamesface.’
Ant and Declan have been criticised for winning the Best Presenter at the NTAs for the 21st year in a row.
Many have branded their continuous winning streak ‘boring’ and even encouraged the Geordie duo to ‘bow out’ of the category to give someone else a chance to win.
One viewer event Tweeted in response: ‘And the Ant and Dec award goes to Ant and Dec! The NTAs are a joke’.
The pair were not at the glitzy awards ceremony on Thursday night held at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London as they both had Covid. Stephen accepted the gong on their behalf.
This Morning star Alison Hammond was nominated in their category – with many saying she should have scooped the prize instead to freshen things up.
Others took to social media to criticise Holly and Phillip for wining the Daytime trophy yet again – as the main winners followed the usual patterns.
Awkward: Elsewhere the 2022 National Television Awards saw Phillip and Holly booed by some members of the audience, before This Morning was announced as the winner of Best Daytime Award
One tweeted in reaction: ‘Why are people acting like Ant and Dec are the only presenters in the entire UK that are worthy of winning the award every year.
‘They are NOT. Alison has interviewed some of the most famous people and they have all loved her. Why can’t she win for once!’
Another said: ‘Ant and Dec have won the same award for like 2/3 of my life and we’re meant to sit here and take this?!’
Someone else wrote: ‘Can Ant and Dec not step aside from nomination next year and give someone else the credit which they deserve too? Just a suggestion!’
Reaction: Ant and Declan have been criticised for winning the Best Presenter at the NTAs for the 21st year in a row (pictured at last year’s show)
Another wrote: ‘I love Ant and Dec, I really do, but it should of been Alison this year…them winning every year is getting beyond boring.’
A separate viewer wrote: ‘Ant and Dec win again oh that’s a surprise .surprise surprise they win again they are so old hat these days.’
Others congratulated the pair and said that they were worthy winners.
One said: ‘YES !!!!! @antanddec…Still the best in the game #GOAT.’
Another said: ’21 years in a row congratulations @antanddec on winning best Presenters of The Year award.’
Not happy: Many have branded their continuous winning streak ‘boring’ and even encouraged the Geordie duo to ‘bow out’ of the category to give someone else a chance to win (Stephen Mulhern picks up the gong on their behalf as they have Covid)
Ant, 46, and Dec, 47, missed picking up their 21st consecutive Best Presenter trophy at the National Television Awards as they are ill with Covid.
Stephen, 45, stepped on stage to accept the gong on their behalf.
He said: ‘Well listen, Ant and Dec can’t be here for obvious reasons. They have given me some words to stay. But I’m not doing any of that drivel. Full respect to the guys, 21 years on the trot, come on.
‘But the reality is, this baby is coming home with me. I’ve had this made, it says the nation’s favourite presenter, Stephen Mulhern. Have a lovely evening everybody goodnight.’
Elsewhere the 2022 National Television Awards saw Phillip and Holly booed by some members of the audience, before This Morning was announced as the winner of Best Daytime Award.
The presenters found themselves at the centre of the ‘queuegate’ controversy’ in September when they were accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen lying in state, which they both denied.
Despite the criticism the broadcasters received, the show still took home the Daytime gong, with Phillip saying the award means ‘so much to us every year, especially this year’.
Taking to the stage after the win, Phillip said: ‘Please don’t think we ever get complacement and please don’ tthink we ever take it for granted. This means so much to us every year, especially this year. We have the best boss.’
Change: One viewer event Tweeted in response: ‘And the Ant and Dec award goes to Ant and Dec! The NTAs are a joke’ (Stephen Mulhern poses with their award)
Holly added: ‘This Morning has a very special relationship with you, you make our show for us, you really do. All these guys on the stage here, Alison [Hammond] and Dermot [O’Leary], Rochelle [Humes] and Vernon [Kay], Josie [Gibson], everyone. Thank you for all your support.’
Phillip and Holly faced considerable backlash, with a petition for the presenters to be removed from television altogether reached 73,000 signatures.
The furore began on Friday September 16 when the presenters’ approach was contrasted with that of football legend David Beckham the same day.
The former England captain waited in line for almost 14 hours to pay his respects to the Queen – despite being offered a pass by an MP to jump the queue.
Popular: This Morning star Alison Hammond was nominated in their category – with many saying she should have scooped the prize instead to freshen things up
Good Morning presenter Susanna Reid also won plaudits for waiting for seven hours with her mother to file past the coffin.
Holly was believed to be unhappy that ITV did not step in sooner to back her, and there has been speculation – since denied – that she may leave the show.
After being seen on the official camera feed inside the venue, the pair said they were there to make a segment for This Morning’s show which would air four days later.
Holly and Phil have not commented on the matter since issuing a statement on This Morning in which they insisted they ‘did not skip the queue’.
The Mail on Sunday revealed the star’s names were not even on the accreditation list when they made their controversial visit to see the Queen lying in state.
The names of their production team were instead used to help them gain access.
ITV insisted it would not give out the personal contact details of on-screen talent to the Palace of Westminster authorities.
The email addresses of programme editor Martin Frizell and another member of the production staff, who accompanied them, had been used instead.
The source involved in the media list told The Mail on Sunday: ‘When they got there, their names weren’t on the list so there were some discussions and – after some back and forth.
‘Phil and Holly were given access and they were ushered through. The whole thing caused a bit of a hoo-ha.’
Holly has been relying on support from her friends to get her through the controversy.
Despite the fact that calls for Holly and Phil to be sacked could land Alison and Dermot the role as full-time hosts, sources say they have remained loyal.
Phil and Holly are reportedly paid as much as £600,000 for presenting the daytime show from Mondays to Thursdays, with Alison and Dermot filling in for Friday’s show.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk