Declan Donnelly remains silent as Britain's Got Talent wins BAFTA in Ant McPartlin's absence

Declan Donnelly was silent as he and the production crew accepted the BAFTA TV award for Britain’s Got Talent in the absence of Ant McPartlin.

The Ant and Dec-front show, which was battling against their other programme, Saturday Night Takeaway, emerged the winner, after fending off stiff competition to win Best Entertainment Programme.

As the group of stars, including judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, and producers took to the stage, the usually jovial Dec, 42, stood sheepishly in the background (totally concealed at one point) and didn’t say a word, as the show’s producer Amelia Brown gave a speech thanking everyone involved with BGT.

Usually, both Ant and Dec would have made a speech, but without his telly partner there, the star took a backseat and allowed others the speak.

The show’s Twitter account were eager to celebrate the win but focused on the four judges rather than its hosts.

‘WOOHOO! Thank you, BAFTA. What an incredible honour! #BGT,’ the caption read.

‘Thank you very much to BAFTA, thank you very much to ITV,’ she began, before naming a string of other people involved with making the show.

She also thanked Thames and SyCo for their parts played, before acknowledging the talent who perform themselves, while mentioning the ‘best hosts’.

‘And obviously to all our talent. We have the best panel, the best hosts, and it’s wonderful to make this show so thank you very much.

‘And thank you to our contestants. They make the show what it is and we can’t do it without them.’

The win is the show’s first since 2010 and its second BAFTA in total. The show’s been nominated five times and is the first year Ant hasn’t been there, in light of his drink-driving conviction.

Earlier this year, Ant, 42, was arrested and subsequently charged for driving while over the legal limit. He since visited rehab (for a second time, after last year’s visit for drug abuse) to address his drinking problem.

The star was charged £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months. One of the show’s other presenters, Stephen Mullhern, said he thought troubled Ant would be away for some time: ‘Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be back to his old self for next year.’

Catch Britain’s Got Talent each Saturday, at 8pm, on ITV1.

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