BELEAGUERED This Morning host Holly Willoughby has been snubbed by viewers in favour of Alison Hammond in a crunch vote for the National Television Awards.
It’s another blow for Holly, 42, after months under the microscope as drama engulfs the daytime ITV show.
Holly’s saving grace is that This Morning itself appears to have been handed a shot at redemption.
Its loyal audience has backed the show despite all the drama, voting it into the shortlist for Best Daytime.
The ITV programme will defend its 2022 title against Loose Women, quiz show The Chase and BBC’s The Repair Shop.
ITV bosses faced questions in Parliament over alleged “toxic” conditions backstage at This Morning after the Phillip Schofield scandal — and viewers bashed Holly over her handling of the saga.
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Now, the fallout has seen fans vote for bubbly Alison as Best TV Presenter instead, leaving Holly off the shortlist for the second year running.
Last year, Phil and Holly plus Friday presenters Dermot O’Leary and Alison went on stage to collect the gong.
But Alison ended up with the microphone.
Phil, 61, who resigned from the show after admitting to an affair with a young runner, is also out in the cold.
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Instead Alison, 48, will compete with Bradley Walsh, Claudia Winkleman, Martin Lewis and Ant and Dec — the Geordie duo have scooped the award 21 times.
A TV source said: “It’s hard to see a time when Ant and Dec don’t scoop the presenter gong at the NTAs. But behind them, the shortlist has become a battleground all of its own. Holly was last nominated in 2021 but she and Phil missed out in 2022.
“Holly would never expect to beat Ant and Dec but everyone had hoped her loyalty to This Morning and resilience would pay off with a nod this year. After all, she hasn’t done anything wrong.
“It’ll be a huge blow for her that Alison is the golden girl that’s emerged glowing from the wreckage of This Morning.”
Claudia, 51, was considered a shoo-in for Best TV Presenter after the runaway success of BBC’s The Traitors.
But Martin Lewis’s inclusion in the shortlist reflects his move from TV expert to presenter thanks to Good Morning Britain.
It is viewers’ votes that have put them there. The NTA voting process begins with a longlist based on TV ratings from Barb. Viewers then vote to choose who makes the shortlist, and then the winners.
Elsewhere on the shortlists, there were signs of green shoots for ITV.
Love Island made the Reality Competition list, although The Traitors is expected to storm to victory. Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs is nominated in Factual, after Paul’s death this year, while The 1% Club is up for Quiz Game Show and there are several mentions for The Chase, in quiz and daytime.
ITV also dominate the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment category, with three of four shows shortlisted — I’m A Celeb, Saturday Night Takeaway and The Masked Singer.
Just one man — James Norton — has been shortlisted for Drama Performance and he’ll face off with his Happy Valley co-star Sarah Lancashire among a field of five.
But it’s the lads who are breaking through in the Rising Star category, with three of the four nominees male. Jade Goody’s son Bobby Brazier is in the running for his work as Freddie Slater in EastEnders.
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Meanwhile, Sky’s Brassic, Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ and E4’s Young Sheldon are up for Best Comedy against BBC’s Ghosts. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at London’s O2 on September 5 where Joel Dommett will host.
- Viewers can vote for free online at nationaltvawards.com or with a 25p-a-minute phone call to 0905 647 2023. You can buy tickets to be in the audience on the same website.
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