Holly Willoughby praises Ant McPartlin for dedicating NTA to Declan Donnelly

Holly Willoughby has praised Ant McPartlin for dedicating his National Television Award for best TV Presenter to Declan Donnelly.

The Geordie presenters picked up the award for the 18th time last night, despite McPartlin not being on television for the majority of the year following his drink-driving arrest and stint at rehab.

Willoughby was up for the award herself, having stood in for McPartlin on I’m A Celebrity, but when asked by Alison Hammond how she felt about the pair winning again, she admitted she couldn’t be happier for them.

“Oh my god, it was lovely,” she said. You know they have had a year of it those two. It was lovely for Dec. I mean Ant said it.”

She added: “There were just so many of those moments. It was right and lovely.”

After accepting their NTA, an emotional McPartlin dedicated the award to Donnelly, saying: “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, well done.”

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

Willoughby presented today’s This Morning hungover with Phillip Schofield and got emotional as she recalled their triumphant night after being voted the best Daytime show for the ninth time.

“It’s nice, it was a really emotional night, I was all over the place, I don’t know, I think people think, ‘Oh you come here every year.’

“But it does mean so much, people say the nicest things, the atmosphere at the O2 was incredible you could feel it. There was a nice feeling for This Morning. We love the show so much.”

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