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Gary Lineker ends Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak at TV awards

Noor NanjiCulture reporter and

Yasmin RufoCulture reporter

Getty Images Gary Lineker is smiling at the camera, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and dark tieGetty Images

Gary Lineker has pulled off a major upset by breaking Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards.

The former Match of the Day presenter was named best TV presenter at the ceremony, where the winners are chosen by viewers, on Wednesday.

Lineker left the BBC football show after 26 years at the end of the Premier League season in May.

It was also his last appearance for the BBC after the latest in a string of controversies about his social media use led him to announce he would be leaving the corporation.

Accepting the award he thanked everyone he worked with and said the prize “demonstrates that it is OK to use your platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice”.

Asked about whether he would work for the BBC again, the presenter said he was not sure and was “really looking forward to working with ITV”.

The awards are unique in that all of the categories are voted for by members of the public.

One of the most watched reality TV shows of the year, The Traitors, went home empty-handed after being beaten by I’m a Celebrity in the reality competition category.

The National Television Award nominees in full:

Reality competition

  • I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
  • Love Island
  • Race Across the World
  • The Traitors

New drama

  • Adolescence
  • Code of Silence
  • Ludwig
  • MobLand
  • Rivals

Quiz show

  • Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
  • Richard Osman’s House of Games
  • The 1% Club
  • The Chase

Authored documentary

  • Boyzone: No Matter What
  • Flintoff
  • Molly-Mae: Behind It All
  • Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me
  • There’s Only One Rob Burrow

Returning drama

  • Call the Midwife
  • Gangs of London
  • Heartstopper
  • Slow Horses
  • Vera

TV presenter

  • Alison Hammond
  • Ant & Dec
  • Claudia Winkleman
  • Gary Lineker
  • Stacey Solomon

Factual entertainment

  • Clarkson’s Farm
  • Gogglebox
  • Sort Your Life Out
  • Stacey & Joe
  • The Martin Lewis Money Show Live

Drama performance

  • Brenda Blethyn – DCI Vera Stanhope, Vera
  • Owen Cooper – Jamie Miller, Adolescence
  • Rose Ayling-Ellis – Alison Brooks, Code of Silence
  • Stephen Graham – Eddie Miller, Adolescence
  • Tom Hardy – Harry Da Souza, MobLand

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award

  • Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
  • The Graham Norton Show
  • The Masked Singer
  • Would I Lie to You?

Serial drama

  • Casualty
  • Coronation Street
  • EastEnders
  • Emmerdale
  • Hollyoaks

Serial drama performance

  • Eden Taylor-Draper – Belle Dingle, Emmerdale
  • Jack P Shepherd – David Platt, Coronation Street
  • Jacqueline Jossa – Lauren Branning, EastEnders
  • Steve McFadden – Phil Mitchell, EastEnders
  • Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster, Coronation Street

Comedy

  • Brassic
  • Gavin & Stacey
  • Michael McIntyre’s 25th Year Stand-Up Special
  • Mrs Brown’s Boys

Daytime

  • James Martin’s Saturday Morning
  • Loose Women
  • Scam Interceptors
  • This Morning

Talent show

  • Britain’s Got Talent
  • Strictly Come Dancing
  • The Great British Bake Off
  • The Great Pottery Throw Down
  • The Voice UK

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