Holly and Phil listen as Lenny Henry makes queuegate swipe at NTAs

It was a night of self-congratulation as the celebs gathered for the glittering National Television Awards on Thursday night.

Emmerdale, Strictly and This Morningall won gongs, with Sir Lenny Henry scooping the Special Recognition Award for his long career in the industry and his many fundraising efforts.

But the audience were left in shock as Sir Lenny, 64, took a thinly veiled swipe at the 'queuegate' controversy, while Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield looked on in the audience.

The comedian was giving an impassioned speech saying: "The last time I was here, it was to see Earth Wind and Fire. Nowadays all of those things are trying to kill us!"

He then added: "Thank you for standing up. I know some of you were just trying to leave. These awards are so long, man, David Beckham is still outside queuing to get in!"

The joke saw the audience erupt with laughter but the camera avoided Holly, 41, and Phil, 60, and instead zoomed in on the Strictly cast who all seemed to be enjoying the drama.

Viewers took to Twitter to react as one wrote: "Yes Lenny made reference to the Queue and David Beckham!", and another echoed: "Do you think Lenny had a little dig at Holly & Phil about David Beckham being still in the queue?"

A third added: "The cameraman trying not to film Phil and Holly when Lenny Henry made that queue joke!" with a sweating man meme.

And another posted: "I do wish the camera panned to Holly and Phil after that queue jumping jibe."

This Morning won the award for Best Daytime show but the team were left facing boos when the nomination was announced as part of the best Daytime Show shortlist.


The hit ITV show, whose stars have come under fire recently following allegations of queue-jumping at the Queen’s lying-in-state, was up against shows including Loose Women and The Repair Shop as it competed in the category.

But as Strictly Come Dancing stars Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin announced that This Morning had taken home the trophy, it seems as though some audience members weren’t impressed as they booed the team.

Elsewhere at the NTAs Alison Hammond took a swipe at fellow nominees Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly who she was up against for Best Presenter.


The Geordie duo, aged 46 and 47, took home the gong for the 21st year in a row leaving Alison, 47, with an unmade speech.

So, seizing her chance when This Morning took home the award for Best Daytime Show, Alison took to the stage and was encouraged by colleagues Holly and Phil to say a few words of her own.

To the delight of the audience she joked: “We all know I should have won one of these as well – you know what? Bradley Walsh, Graham Norton and the legends that are Ant and Dec are great, but I should have got one!”

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