Ant and Dec snubbed by Royal Television Society Awards for the first time in nine years

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have not been nominated for a single 2019 Royal Television Society Award.

This is the first time they have been left out of the prestigious annual awards in nine years. The pair had continually received nominations since 2010, but this year it was not meant to be.

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They won the RTS Best Entertainment Performance award five times previously.

McPartlin returned to television this year, after a year away from the spotlight following his time in rehab, arrest, and subsequent drink-driving fine.

Just a few days after he returned to his Britain’s Got Talent gig he – along with Donnelly – won an National Television Award for Best Presenters. Their award proved controversial, with some viewers arguing that, as McPartlin had barely been on television the last year, the duo didn’t deserve to win the accolade.

McPartlin even admitted he didn’t feel like could accept the award, and that receiving the gong was ‘a genuine shock’:

“This is a genuine shock, especially this year. I’m shaking. We want to say thank you to everybody, I really don’t feel like I can accept it, the one reason we won this award was this guy, his wit his determination, I love you, pal,” he said.

“I’ve got him back now, now we’e back together. This year more than ever thanks for voting for us,” a teary-eyed Donnelly added.

43-year-old McPartlin had been the cause of a three-car crash in March 2018, after driving over the twice the limit of drink-driving.

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This was followed by him paying an £83,000 fine, the largest ever drink-driving fine recorded in British history, a stint at rehab clinic The Priory and giving up several television hosting gigs.

This included pulling out of Britain Got Talent midseason and Holly Willoughby replacing his hosting duties on last year’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

The RTS Royal Programme winners will be announced this year on Tuesday March 19.