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Gary Lineker ends Ant and Dec's 22-year NTA reign in major upset

The former Match of the Day presenter said it was "not lost on him" why he had won the best TV presenter award, having left the BBC football show in May after 26 years.

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The former Match of the Day presenter was named best TV presenter at Wednesday's ceremony
The former Match of the Day presenter was named best TV presenter at Wednesday's ceremony. Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images for the NTA's

By Frankie Elliott

Gary Lineker said it was "amazing" to break Ant and Dec's 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards (NTAs).

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In a major upset, the former Match of the Day presenter was named best TV presenter at Wednesday's ceremony.

After winning the award, the former footballer said: "Blimey, I've won the Ant and Dec trophy."

The NTA winners are chosen by viewers and Lineker, who left the BBC football show after 26 years in May, admitted it was "not lost on me why I might have won this award".

"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," he added.

Elsewhere, Gavin and Stacey's finale won the award for best comedy, having attracted more than 20 million viewers on Christmas Day.

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The cast and crew of Gavin & Stacey in the press room after the show won the Comedy Award at the National Television Awards
Gavin and Stacey's finale won the award for best comedy, having attracted more than 20 million viewers on Christmas Day. Picture: Alamy

Ruth Jones, who co-wrote and co-starred in the sitcom alongside James Corden, told the audience: "Alright, calm down. I'm going to the bar now for a pint of wine."

The Traitors, another popular BBC show, missed out on a gong after losing out to I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in the reality competition section.

Melvin Odoom, Danny Jones and Oti Mabuse accept the 'Reality Competition' Award for 'I'm a Celeb'
Melvin Odoom, Danny Jones and Oti Mabuse accept the 'Reality Competition' Award for 'I'm a Celeb'. Picture: Getty

Netflix drama Adolescence also had a successful night, winning best new drama as well as best drama performance for its 15-year-old star, Owen Cooper.

Cooper was unable to accept the trophy in person as he is away in the US, but a video recording of him was shown.

"Never could I have believed that this show, Adolescence, would change my life in the way that it has," he said.

"It's the fact that the viewers who voted for this, it just shows what a powerful, impactful show that we all got to make."

Amari Bacchus, Jo Hartley, Kaine Davis, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller and Fatima Bojang accept the 'New Drama' Award
Netflix drama Adolescence had a successful night, winning best new drama. Picture: Getty

Elsewhere, Strictly Come Dancing has won the talent show prize for the 10th year in a row.

The BBC dance programme, which is returning to screens later this month, has faced controversy in recent years, including allegations about the behaviour of the show's professional dancers.

In the winner's room, Pete Wicks, who competed last year, said: "It's one of the best things I've ever done.

"For someone that had never danced before or done anything, I genuinely fell in love with it, and a lot of that is down to (dancer) Jowita (Przystal). It's down to all the pros.

"But more than anything, it's down to all the people behind the scenes because it's an absolute machine.

"The reason it's been going for 20 years, and the reason it's a national institution, is because of the people that make it - and it's one of the best things I've ever done in my life."

Shayne Ward, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland, Montell Douglas and Stefania Aleksander accept the 'Talent Show' Award for 'Strictly Come Dancing'
Shayne Ward, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland, Montell Douglas and Stefania Aleksander accept the 'Talent Show' Award for 'Strictly Come Dancing'. Picture: Getty
Stop-motion duo Wallace & Gromit received a special recognition award at this year's National Television Awards (NTAs)
Stop-motion duo Wallace & Gromit received a special recognition award at this year's National Television Awards (NTAs). Picture: Aardman/PA Wire

Animated duo Wallace & Gromit were also presented with a special recognition award.

Molly-Mae's Behind It All won the best authored documentary award, beating Boyzone, Freddie Flintoff, Amy Dowden and Rob Burrow.

The influencer, who joked that she had lost a shoe as she walked up to the stage, told the audience: "Just to be nominated for this award was such an honour.

Molly-Mae Hague poses after winning the Best Authored Documentary award
Molly-Mae: Behind It All won the best authored documentary award. Picture: Getty

"I think as you guys saw, we were up against some seriously inspirational people in this category."

She thanked the team behind the documentary, as well as her family and her partner, Tommy Fury, and their daughter.

She said: "And finally, to Tommy and Bambi at home, I love you guys so much. I couldn't live without you guys."

The National Television Award nominees and winners in full

Reality Competition

The Traitors

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! - WINNER

Love Island

Race Across the World

New Drama

Adolescence - WINNER

Rivals

MobLand

Code of Silence

Ludwig

Quiz Show

Michael McIntyre's The Wheel

Richard Osman's House of Games

The 1% Club - WINNER

The Chase

Authored Documentary

Flintoff

There's Only One Rob Burrow

Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me

Molly-Mae: Behind It All - WINNER

Boyzone: No Matter What

The cast of Call the Midwife, behind the scenes holding a clapperboard

Call the Midwife won Returnng Drama. Neal Street / Olly Courtney

Returning Drama

Vera

Call the Midwife - WINNER

Gangs of London

Heartstopper

Slow Horses

TV Presenter

Ant & Dec

Alison Hammond

Claudia Winkleman

Stacey Solomon

Gary Lineker - WINNER

Jeremy Clarkson stood in front of a large green tractor with his hands spread outwards.

Jeremy Clarkson won with Clarkson's Farm. Ellis O'Brien

Factual Entertainment

Sort Your Life Out

Stacey & Joe

Clarkson's Farm - WINNER

Gogglebox

The Martin Lewis Money Show Live

Drama Performance

Owen Cooper (Jamie Miller, Adolescence) - WINNER

Stephen Graham (Eddie Miller, Adolescence)

Tom Hardy (Harry Da Souza, MobLand)

Rose Ayling-Ellis (Alison Brooks, Code of Silence)

Brenda Blethyn (DCI Vera Stanhope, Vera)

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award

Michael McIntyre's Big Show - WINNER

The Masked Singer

Would I Lie to You?

The Graham Norton Show

Serial Drama

Emmerdale

EastEnders - WINNER

Hollyoaks

Coronation Street

Casualty

Serial Drama Performance

Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) - WINNER

Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)

Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street)

Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster, Coronation Street)

Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Branning, EastEnders)

Comedy

Gavin & Stacey - WINNER

Brassic

Mrs Brown's Boys

Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special