NTAs 2025: Ant And Dec Break Silence After Gary Lineker Beats Them To Best Presenter

(Left) Ant and Dec (Right) Gary LinekerAnt and Dec have spoken out after their Best Presenter winning streak was finally broken at this year’s NTAs.For the past 23 years, Ant and Dec had triumphed in the Best Presenter category at the National Television Awards, which is voted for by members of the public.However, during Wednesday night’s ceremony, the duo – who missed the ceremony as they are currently filming a new I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! spin-off in South Africa – lost out to former Match Of The Day star Gary Lineker.Speaking on their Instagram story on Thursday morning, Declan Donnelly began by saying “a huge thank you” to the people who voted for I’m A Celebrity to win in the Best Reality Competition category.“Everyone here is very, very happy,” Ant McPartlin continued, referring to his I’m A Celebrity colleagues. “Also, thank you to everyone who voted for us in the Best Presenter category – even though we couldn’t get it across the line this year.”He joked: “We were beaten by an up-and-coming new guy, 64-year-old whippersnapper Gary Lineker. Well done, mate.”Dec continued: “Well-deserved, congratulations Gary. Great speech, too.”“Lovely speech,” Ant agreed. “Thoroughly deserved. Well done, pal.”They also marked the occasion by posting an old photo from the set of Saturday Night Takeaway, featuring Gary dressed as a penguin.Ant and Dec with Gary Lineker in 2009Accepting the award on Wednesday, months after leaving Match Of The Dayfollowing a public controversy, Gary told the audience: “It’s not lost on me why I might have won this award – aside from presenting Match Of The Day.”He added: “Also… I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK sometimes for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice. Thank you, it means the world.”@huffpostukBest Presenter winner at the National Television Awards, Gary Lineker, says ‘it’s okay sometimes for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice’ while picking up the “Ant and Dec trophy” at the NTAs! 🍉 #ntas#garylineker#antanddec#britishtv#matchoftheday♬ original sound - HuffPost UKBack in the spring, Gary issued a public apology after unknowingly resharing anti-Semitic coded imagery on social media, when he reposted a video titled “Zionism explained in less than two mins”, which addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza.What he seemingly did not realise was that it was overlaid with a cartoon image of a rat, an anti-Semitic trope dating back to Nazi Germany.Having already announced that he would be stepping down from Match Of The Day at the end of the football season, Gary made the decision to leave the show early as a result of the controversy.“As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for,” he insisted at the time.“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”Two years earlier, Gary had found himself at the centre of a very different media storm when social media posts from him criticising the former Conservative government’s policy on migration were found to be in breach of the BBC’s guidelines around impartiality.As a result, the BBC’s leadership team declared that Gary would not present that week’s edition of Match Of The Day, which led to several of his BBC Sport colleagues also pulling out of their own presenting duties in solidarity.The BBC’s decision sparked a widespread backlash, resulting in Gary being reinstated as Match Of The Day host a few days later.READ MORE:Gary Lineker Gave The Speech Of The Night After Winning Best Presenter At The NTAsHere's The Full List Of Winners From This Year's National Television AwardsThese Are All The Red Carpet Photos You Need To See From The 2025 National Television Awards

Comments

Breaking news

Bus drivers ‘spat on, punched at and forced to clean up vomit’ during London Tube strikes

Metro

Comments

Similar News

Ruth Jones oozes glamour in a purple sequin gown at the NTAs in her first appearance since her split from ex-husband David Peet

Loose Women stars boycott NTAs after losing out to rivals This Morning for years amid looming budget cuts

The NTAs no-shows: Why TV's biggest stars including Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby and Ant and Dec snubbed the award's 30th anniversary

Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard break with major TV tradition by not filming This Morning in the same clothes from the night before after NTAs win

Vogue Williams is the latest star to take a swipe at Molly-Mae Hague's 'shock' NTAs win - while beaming influencer brushes off the backlash with a thumbs up as she steps out with daughter Bambi

NTAs 2025: All The National Television Awards Red Carpet Photos You Need To See

NTAs stars head home! Worse-for-wear Maura Higgins leaves solo after awkward reunion with Danny Jones following THAT kiss as takeaway-wielding Lucy Fallon joins bleary-eyed Josie Gibson and Rochelle Humes

NTAs 2025 Full Winners List: Adolescence And EastEnders Lead The Way

NTAs 2025: Gary Lineker Gave The Speech Of The Night After Winning Best Presenter

Real Housewives star hospitalised and missed NTAs as she 'can't take pain any more'

Gavin and Stacey's chaotic night at the NTAs as show villain Laura Aikman goes barefoot on stage before Ruth Jones channels Nessa and declares she'll celebrate win with a 'pint of wine'

Stacey Solomon suffers another awards show blow as she misses out on THREE NTAs - after complaining both of her shows were nominated in the same category

Dermot O'Leary acknowledges the scandals that have rocked This Morning for the past two years in passionate NTAs speech and says his colleagues have been put 'through the mill'

Davina McCall parties the night away as she shares behind the scenes selfies from the NTAs with Maya Jama and Gary Lineker

Molly-Mae Hague leaves NTAs viewers 'fuming' as she beats favourite Rob Burrow to win major gong

Gary Lineker takes aim at the BBC as he wins major gong at NTAs and declares 'this demonstrates that it's ok to speak up for those who have no voice'

Gary Lineker breaks Ant and Dec’s 23-year streak by winning best TV presenter at NTAs

Princess Andre makes a style statement at the NTAs with £55 charm bracelet stack

Elizabeth Hurley, 60, puts on a jaw-dropping display in sheer dress with plunging neckline as she's joined by boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus and son Damian for NTAs

Molly-Mae's blurring NTAs blush had 1.2k people waiting for its launch

Breaking news

Bus drivers ‘spat on, punched at and forced to clean up vomit’ during London Tube strikes

Russian drones shot down in Poland ‘were heading to Nato base supplying Ukraine’

Oasis fan who died at Wembley Stadium gig suffered ‘multiple bodily injuries’

Full list of world’s richest people with US tycoon neck-and-neck with Elon Musk

Heathrow airport hails busiest ever month with eight million passengers

UK's Starmer fires Britain's ambassador to the US over his links to Jeffrey Epstein

European Central Bank expected to keep rates on hold as economy weathers Trump's tariffs

Qatar official says Netanyahu 'killed any hope' of hostage release with strike in Doha on Hamas

Trainline shares accelerate on rosier earnings outlook

Almost all German pilots admit to napping during flights, survey finds

Government rules out plan to block out the sun as scientists warn of ‘severe damage’ risks

Wind and solar power fuel over one-third of Brazil's electricity for first time

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk assassinated at Utah university; shooter still at large

Israel ‘killed any hope’ for hostages with attack on Doha, says Qatari prime minister

Yemen's national museum damaged during deadly Israeli airstrikes, Houthi Ministry of Culture says

These spiders have ‘dark DNA’ - and it could change the way we understand evolution

Beachgoers form human chain to save boy from being swept out to sea

Trump tried to convince deported South Korean workers to stay and train Americans

Ride-hailing app Bolt records spike in hospital trips amid Tube strikes

Prince Harry finishes UK visit with tribute to Diana before US return

Mandelson sacked ‘in light of new emails’ over Jeffrey Epstein relationship, Doughty tells MPs

Leading Turkish broadcaster seized by state as part of fraud and tax investigation

Brits Urged To Keep A Bowl Of Salt On Their Windowsills This Month

NTAs 2025: Ant And Dec Break Silence After Gary Lineker Beats Them To Best Presenter

Drew Barrymore On The 1 Bit Of Life-Changing Advice She's Passed On To Her Kids

Here's What Actors Are Actually Smoking On Screen – And We're In Disbelief

Peter Mandelson Sacked As US Ambassador Over Jeffrey Epstein Row

Peter Mandelson sacked as US ambassador over links with ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein

Peter Mandelson is SACKED as US ambassador following Jeffrey Epstein scandal

Tragic details emerge after Oasis fan, 45, fell to his death at Wembley Stadium concert

Peter Mandelson sacked as US ambassador after fresh revelations over his links to Epstein

Rescue boat evacuating flood victims capsizes in eastern Pakistan, killing 9

Trump pledges ‘vicious’ response in tribute to murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska

Chris Pratt leads celebrity reactions to ‘senseless’ Charlie Kirk shooting

‘The Left is the party of murder’: Elon Musk calls for Republicans to ‘fight’ after Charlie Kirk killing

Hundreds seek to leave Nepal as the army tries to restore order after violent protests

Peter Mandelson sacked by Keir Starmer after revelations over Epstein ties: Latest updates

Eyewitnesses recount horror as Charlie Kirk shot at Utah university event

Primark boss issues stark warning to Reeves over Budget

Strong winds of up to 80mph to hit UK with yellow weather warning issued

Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Manhunt intensifies for Trump ally’s killer after ‘targeted attack’ at Utah college

John Lewis and Waitrose owner loses £88 million after national insurance hike

How Prince Harry’s private tea with King Charles could mark start of new era after years of conflict

Last words of Charlie Kirk before he was shot dead on stage

Rachel Reeves admits economy is ‘stuck’ as she confirms business rates overhaul

MAGA diehards are now blaming South Park for the death of Charlie Kirk

What we know about the Gerbera drones that caused chaos in Poland’s airspace

‘I had a spot under my eye. It turned out to be cancer’

Alpaca, donkey and bear enthusiasts in court over £1.9m will of llama-loving pensioner

How much Tube drivers really earn as they strike over TfL pay

Racial abuse of Black players spikes early in European soccer season

Growing appetite for octopus threatens future of iconic dish

Ancient burial site upends what we knew about Stone Age women and children

Sudden deluge of rain floods some streets and halts air and rail traffic in Tokyo

Trainline shares accelerate on rosier earnings outlook

Peter Mandelson asked Jeffrey Epstein for help vetting an Israeli adviser

Ghana receives 14 West African nationals deported from the US