Holly Willoughby reportedly snuck out of the National Television Awards before the ceremony had ended on Thursday.
The TV presenter, 41, was booed during the event when she and co-host Phillip Schofield’s show This Morning was announced as one of the nominees for the Best Daytime award following their ‘queuegate’ controversy.
According to The Sun, Holly departed the awards show – held at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley – about a half an hour after she accepted the award.
Exit: Holly Willoughby reportedly snuck out of the National Television Awards before the ceremony had ended on Thursday
A source said: ‘Holly picked up her award for Best Daytime and then left 30 minutes after.
‘Normally she stays around for a drink with Phil and the team but she did an Irish exit.
‘She was seen leaving the ceremony and getting into a car outside just after 10pm.’
The insider added that it was ‘very awkward’ for Holly and Phil to go up on stage after the boos from the crowd.
Win: The TV presenter, 41, was booed during the event when she and co-host Phillip Schofield’s show This Morning was announced as one of the nominees for the Best Daytime award folloing their ‘queuegate’ controversy
MailOnline has contacted representatives of Holly Willoughby for comment.
Getting on stage to accept the award, Holly’s co-host Phillip said: ‘Please don’t think we ever get complacent and please don’t think we ever take it for granted. This means so much to us every year, especially this year. We have the best boss.’
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.’
After winning the award, Holly took to Instagram and shared a snap of the pair together, writing: ‘Thank you… holy moly… we love you…@thismorning… you are the best team, you work so hard to make the show what it is…
‘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…’
‘The best team’: Holly reportedly departed the awards show – held at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley – about a half an hour after she accepted the 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.
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.
Good Morning presenter Susanna Reid also won plaudits for waiting for seven hours with her mother to file past the coffin.
Ceremony: The insider added that it was ‘very awkward’ for Holly and Phil to go up on stage after the booes from the crowd
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.
Queuegate: 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
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.
Fallout: Phillip and Holly faced considerable backlash, with a petition for the presenters to be removed from television altogether reached 73,000 signatures
‘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 Hammond and Dermot O’Leary 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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