EXCLUSIVE ‘She’s very popular’: NTAs host Joel Dommett tips Alison Hammond to finally end Ant and Dec’s 20-year best presenting win as the TV duo bow out of ceremony with Covid
NTAs host Joel Dommett has tipped Alison Hammond to finally end Ant and Dec’s 20-year winning streak by taking home the Best Presenter gong.
The comedian, 37, describes the This Morning host, 47, as a ‘force of nature’ and says if anyone can beat the Geordies, it’s her.
But Joel is keen to stress that Ant and Dec, who have bowed out of tonight’s ceremony after testing positive for Covid, are still very much at the peak of their powers and another victory would be deserved.
‘It could be Alison’s year’: NTAs host Joel Dommett has tipped Alison Hammond to finally end Ant and Dec’s 20-year winning streak by taking home the Best Presenter gong
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline ahead of Thursday’s ceremony, Joel said: ‘Alison is very popular… it could be the year for Alison to break Ant and Dec’s streak.
‘For me it’s a win, win situation and I’m sure it is for them as well.
‘Ant and Dec are still so good. If everyone was just voting for them because they’ve won it for 20 years they may as well just win another I would understand, but people don’t vote for them for that. Viewers vote for them because they’re so good still.’
On Alison’s hopes, he added: ‘But If it was to go to anyone else then I would be happy for it to go to Alison – she’s a wonderful force of nature, very infectious, and she’s always been that way.
‘Since I met her 10 years ago, she’s always been like that.
‘She has been on TV for so long and has become this main presenter the last couple of years, but she was on Big Brother, I’m A Celeb, she’s had a hell of a career.’
‘She’s had a hell of a career’: The comedian describes the This Morning host as a ‘force of nature’ and says if anyone can beat the Geordies, it’s her
‘They’re so good’: Joel is keen to stress that Ant and Dec, who have bowed out of tonight’s ceremony after testing positive for Covid, are still very much at the peak of their powers (pictured in September 2021)
Bradley Walsh and Graham Norton have also been nominated for the Best Presenter gong, but Alison is regarded as serial winners’ Ant and Dec’s biggest competition.
In 2019, Holly Willoughby was heavily backed to beat the Geordies for her efforts on This Morning and as co-host of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! alongside Dec the previous year, when she filled in for Ant while he was in rehab following his drink-driving charge.
But despite being the favourite with some bookies, Ant and Dec still took home the award.
Tonight’s ceremony, held at The OVO Arena Wembley and screened live on ITV from 8pm, will be Joel’s second as host.
Potential: Bradley Walsh and Graham Norton have also been nominated for the Best Presenter gong, but Alison is regarded as serial winners’ Ant and Dec’s biggest competition
Viewers familiar with his work fronting The Masked Singer will see the star in slightly toned-down attire and he’s rebuffed offers of a spray tan, saying darker skin makes his teeth look bigger – which is regularly pointed out by trolls.
Joel also won’t be hitting London’s bars and clubs afterwards to let his hair down, purely because he’s not a big boozer.
He added: ‘The NTA suit is a bit more muted, it’s more of a classic tux with a bit of an edge. I’ve got so used to wearing wild suits it will be really nice to wear a tux.
‘I have to moderate my tan otherwise I get loads of tweets from people saying that my teeth are massive when they’re not – it’s just I may be more tanned.
‘I’ll probably have a drink at the after party, but I have to be honest I don’t really like alcohol.
‘I am a control freak so when I’m drinking alcohol, I don’t let myself enjoy it.
‘Being around it a lot it’s easy to drink every night and being a standup comedian for so long you could drink every single night if you wanted to but I knew that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had three pints before every gig.’
‘Toned down’: Joel says he’ll be wearing a ‘classic’ suit to present the NTAs, which is a welcomed change from the ‘wild’ outfits he sports on The Masked Singer
Joel’s model wife Hannah Cooper will be supporting him from the audience and her presence will have a calming effect on the host, who credits their relationship for much of his success.
The TV star says he’s thankful that Hannah is now being recognised by fans of their couples’ podcast Never Have I Ever as someone that’s just as funny as her comedic husband.
He said: ‘I don’t know if this makes us the same or different from other people but we just really like each other, we like hanging out, and we have a lot of respect for each other and she helps me through a lot of decisions in my career and I’d be a very different place if it wasn’t for her.
‘I really like that people think she’s funny. She’s great and I’ve always known that ever since I met her so now its nice other people are starting to realise that.
‘It’s hard in the modelling industry that she was so immersed in… it’s a hardcore industry and they don’t make you feel particularly valued. It’s nice that she’s taken a step closer towards what I do, and people are giving her the time of day.’
Power couple: Joel’s model wife Hannah Cooper will be supporting him from the audience and her presence will have a calming effect on the host, who credits their relationship for much of his success
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