Yahoo News Dermot O'Leary weighs in on Ant & Dec NTA nomination
Dermot O'Leary has weighed in on whether Ant and Dec should win Best Presenter at the National Television Awards this year.
The presenting duo, who have enjoyed 17 consecutive wins in the category, are still in the running – despite the fact that they haven't appeared on TV together for the best part of a year.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Dermot said: "If Ant and Dec win it this year, we should just not do it any more. If they win it, we may as well just chuck in the towel."
And just in case anyone gets any wrong ideas about his comment, Dermot has since clarified on Twitter that he was joking when he said that.
"I wouldn’t normally react to this, but... A) I said no such thing," he wrote in reply to the suggestion that he was 'hitting out' at the presenters.
"I merely joked that if the boys win this year, we should all chuck in the towel. It was neither serious nor a 'rage'."
I wouldn’t normally react to this, but...
A) I said no such thing. I merely joked that if the boys win this year, we should all chuck in the towel. It was neither serious nor a ‘rage.’ https://t.co/eZWSabKHoO- Dermot O'Leary (@radioleary) January 16, 2019
If Ant and Dec don't take home the award this year, Dermot has offered up a few other worthy winners, adding: "With the greatest respect to the boys, I think Holly [Willoughby] has had such a great year, and Graham [Norton]."
And when asked why the pair were shortlisted, Dermot replied: "They made the decision that they want to put themselves up this year, so you’d have to ask [them]."
After a drink-driving incident in March 2018, Ant stepped down from his presenting duties, leaving Dec to hold the fort alone on Britain's Got Talent and the final two episodes of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
Related: Piers Morgan slams Ant McPartlin's NTAs nomination live on Good Morning Britain
It was later revealed that Ant intended to take a break from all television work for the rest of the year while he focused on his recovery.
This left a presenter-shaped hole in November's I'm a Celebrity, which was filled by This Morning host Holly Willoughby.
The final round of voting for the 24th National Television Awards is now open. The NTAs ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV on January 22 from The O2 London and hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
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