By Kathryn Williams

Copyright walesonline

I’m A Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec have reacted to losing out on the best TV presenter award at the NTAs. The Geordie duo have claimed the gong for the past 23 years but it was not to be for 2025 as ex-Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker walked away with the award. The 64-year-old former Match of the Day presenter beat the Geordie pair, both 49, who have collected the accolade every year since 2001 – and did not attend the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday evening. Now Ant and Dec, who are in South Africa filming for I’m a Celebrity All Stars – hence their absence from the ceremony – have broken their silence about the former England legend swiping the title from under their nose. In a gracious speech on their Instagram Stories, the pair congratulated Lineker. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Ant said: “Thanks to everybody who voted for us for Best Presenter, even though we couldn’t get it across the line this year. We were beaten by a young up-and-comer, 64-year-old whippersnapper, Gary Lineker.” Both Ant and Dec said the award Lineker picked up was “well deserved,” and complimented his “lovely speech.” They then rushed off camera claiming they were going to “hang four celebs off a cliff,” referring to the new series of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity All Stars. Shortly after that they uploaded an old picture of the three of them dressed as Batman, Robin and a comical penguin from the pair’s 2009 Christmas Show, congratulating the sports host again and adding: “Or should we say our old nemesis, The Penguin.” At the ceremony on Wednesday night Gary told the audience: “Blimey, I’ve won the Ant and Dec trophy. “Thank you, thank you to everyone who voted for me, hugely appreciated. It’s amazing.” Lineker won the same year in which he left the BBC following an anti-semitism row . Lineker , 64, apologised “unreservedly” in May after he shared a post on Instagram about Zionism which featured an image of a rat – a symbol used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including in Nazi Germany. The former England footballer said in a statement that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic” and that he removed the post when he “became aware of the issue”. He announced he was leaving the BBC days later, saying that “stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action”. Lineker had presented Match Of The Day since 1999 and was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent when he stepped down. The NTA ceremony, hosted by Joel Dommett, was broadcast live on ITV1. It marked the 30th anniversary of the awards, first held in 1995 and are voted for entirely by the public. The evening began with a win for comedian Michael McIntyre, whose Big Show took home Best Quiz Show. Later, Lee Mack also collected the same category award for his The 1% Club quiz show. This Morning secured the Best Daytime TV award, two years after losing to the BBC ’s The Repair Shop. New presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley accepted alongside Alison Hammond, who told the audience the team had been “humbled” by their previous defeats. In drama, Call the Midwife triumphed over the final series of Vera for Best Returning Drama. Teenage actor Owen Cooper was named Best Drama Performance for his portrayal of Jamie Miller in Adolescence. In serial drama, Steve McFadden won for his performance as Phil Mitchell in EastEnders after he depicted the character’s mental health struggles. The award for Best Comedy went to Gavin and Stacey, following high ratings for its Christmas finale, although creators James Corden and Matthew Horne were unable to attend. Other nominees included Mrs Brown’s Boys and Brassic. Jeremy Clarkson saw Clarkson’s Farm win Best Factual Entertainment, telling the crowd he had recently started using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. Stacey Solomon missed out again as her series Sort Your Life Out failed to win. Former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague won Best Authored Documentary for her series charting her split from Tommy Fury. She beat Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, There’s Only One Rob Burrow, Freddie Flintoff and a Boyzone project. Liz Hurley and Rob Rinder presented the Best Reality Competition award to I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, while Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan were among the night’s other presenters.