Ant and Dec in awards triumph - Nov 1 2007
Ant and Dec have triumphed at the National Television Awards, despite their shows getting caught up in the phone rip-off scandal.

The presenting duo confounded expectations of a public backlash by winning three awards, showing that the gloss has not come off the pair.

Their show, Saturday Night Takeaway, beat the likes of Deal Or No Deal, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross and An Audience With Take That Live.

The former Byker Grove duo were also named Most Popular Entertainment Presenter.

Ant and Dec’s reality show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! won Most Popular Reality Programme, beating other heavyweights like Big Brother and The Apprentice.

Former contestant Dean Gaffney accepted the award, joking: "

I was honoured to be asked by ITV to collect this award on behalf of I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

"I can only assume that David Gest’s visa has run out."

All the awards, presented at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald, were voted for by the public.

The BBC picked up the majority of the awards, six compared to ITV’s five, while Channel 4 walked away empty-handed.

Sci-Fi drama Doctor Who won two awards including Most Popular Drama, which saw it beat rivals Life On Mars and Shameless. Its star, David Tennant, was named Most Popular Actor.

EastEnders won two awards, beating its rival Coronation Street to the best soap and also winning Most Popular Actress for Lacey Turner.


Ant and Dec fear backlash? - Oct 31 2007
Ant and Dec are reportedly worried they may be snubbed at the National Television Awards.

It seems the cheeky presenting duo fear a backlash from viewers following Saturday Night Takeaway’s part in ITV’s £7.8 million phone scam, reports the Daily Mirror.

The pair are up for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter, Most Popular Entertainment Programme (Saturday Night Takeaway), Most Popular Talent Show (Britain’s Got Talent) and Most Popular Reality Programme (I’m A Celebrity).

If they do pick up a gong, they plan to make a public apology from a live video link-up.

"Ant and Dec have done exceptionally well at this event for the past six years," a plan told the paper.

"This time over two million viewers have voted but Ant and Dec’s figures are believed to be well down. The boys won’t be sweeping the board.

"It’s possible they may win nothing - which last month would have been unthinkable.

"The boys feel they could be the victims of a public backlash since the results of the phone vote scandal involving Takeaway - and that’s made their management worried.

"It seems like the best way for them to move on is to apologise directly to the audience - who were shelling out cash with no chance of winning.

"The boys were unaware that their viewers were being fleeced, but it’s their show and they think this could be the ideal opportunity to say sorry."


Ant and Dec ’sorry’ over phone-in scandal - Oct 22 2007
Ant and Dec are to donate profits from the next series of their show Saturday Night Takeaway as a "gesture of goodwill" after the ITV phone-in investigation.

The popular presenters sought to distance themselves from the scandal, saying they were "deeply upset" by the findings of an independent review that phone-in lines had been rigged and stressing they had received no financial benefit.