Ant and Dec hint at retirement after historic National Television Awards win


TV stars Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are celebrating an unprecedented 23rd consecutive win at the National Television Awards.

The much-loved presenters took a moment to consider the journey they've experienced over the years while accepting their 23rd consecutive TV presenter award amidst the glamour of the O2 Arena. The event saw some playful banter, with Bradley Walsh from The Chase humorously attempting to swipe their trophy as they approached the stage.

With a light-hearted rebuff, Dec quipped to his comical colleague, "Sit down Bradley, sit down!" Embracing the accolade, Dec expressed his gratitude: "Thank you it's really hard to put into words just how this feels and what it means to us that you take the time to vote for us."

READ MORE:King Charles issues health update as he says 'you don't stay young for very long'

READ MORE:Martin Lewis gushes over rarely-seen bombshell wife as she stuns in red gown at NTAs

Meanwhile, Ant called the award a "joy" and shared a joke about a future where they might not win, but assured it wasn't this night.

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly accept the TV Presenter Award
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly accept the TV Presenter Award -Credit:Getty Images for the NTA's

Continuing his heartfelt speech, Ant said, "What can we say? Thank you so much. It's really, really hard to put into words just how this feels year after year and how much it means to us that you take the time to vote for us and make us your winners," reports the Mirror.

He further acknowledged: "Honestly, it's a joy, we know we're not gonna win it one year but it's not tonight, thank God. But thank you to everybody who works with us on our shows, we love you, we wouldn't be here without you guys."

TV legends Ant and Dec showed their softer side at the recent awards ceremony, where they shared touching tributes to their loved ones. Dec gave us all the feels by disclosing he carried his daughter's good luck charm, while Ant suggested a well-deserved break is on the horizon as he lovingly thanked his family, saying: "Thank you to our beautiful wives and lovely supportive families, sorry we work so much but we've got some time off now."

Dec continued with words of gratitude for his Geordie roots: "Thank you to our families in the Toon."

Ant and Dec
Dec's daughter gifted him with a 'lucky' lip balm before the awards -Credit:ITV

He then delivered a heartwarming anecdote about fatherhood that had everyone going 'aww', revealing his daughter Isla sent him off with her lip balm for good luck: "It used to be we'd be going out partying and now we're going back to dirty nappies and the school run tomorrow. My girl Isla is six now, she left for school this morning and said 'Good luck, I hope you win the trophy'. In fact, she said, 'Take my lip balm, I think it'll be good luck'."

As he brandished the lip balm triumphantly, Dec announced: "Isla, it worked! We won! ".

The pair, who bagged their 22nd NTA last year, humbly branded themselves "the luckiest men on TV". They flashed their infectious smiles once more as they collected another award for TV Presenter in September 2023, with Ant humorously feigning relief on stage.

At The O2 London, clutching the prestigious trophy, Ant - who recently become a dad - gushed that they truly feel like the "luckiest two men on telly" and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the NTAs, ITV, and their loyal fans. Meanwhile, Dec, who formed an unbreakable bond with Ant at just 13 during their Byker Grove days, admitted his heart was racing with excitement and nerves, saying: "We are as humbled and grateful tonight as we were when we won it for the first time."

Ant made a heartfelt pledge to their audience, vowing to continue delighting viewers "as long as you want us to". Behind the scenes, the duo revealed the secret sauce to their lasting appeal: Ant credited their friendship, explaining, "We met at 13 and we have grown like friends do. We're friends first and foremost and the TV comes after that. So I think that's at the heart of it, you know you're watching friends. We know what makes each other laugh, what annoys each other and yeah we love each other."

From their early days as young actors on BBC's Byker Grove, the beloved Geordie stars have been virtually inseparable. They've had a stint as pop duo PJ and Duncan, got the nation chanting with Let's Get Ready to Rumble, became icons on SMTV, and inked an exclusive deal with ITV, cementing their status as two of the channel's brightest stars.

Ant and Dec with King Charles
The pair work closely with the Prince's Trust -Credit:Getty

Despite their incredible success, the dynamic duo faced a severe challenge in 2018. The mates, who once lived side by side, were forced to confront their issues after a fateful incident on Sunday, March 18, 2018, led them to pause their partnership. On that day, Ant was involved in a drink-driving incident in west London, which resulted in a young girl needing medical attention. The TV star immediately took a step back from his presenting duties and sought help for "alcohol and emotional" issues at rehab for the second time.

Dec was blindsided by Ant's struggles; he was so taken aback by the news of the crash that he found it hard to accept. "It felt like a nightmare, that there'd been a mistake. 'Of course he didn't do that,'" he recounted. The day after the accident, the two had a candid conversation where Ant owned up to his actions before they met with ITV executives to discuss their future. Dec shared with the Guardian: "We had a heart-to-heart. I said, 'Look, forget everything TV, the partnership you've just got to go and get well.' I think I said I'd give everything up if he could just be happy again."

However, emotions ran high as Dec confessed: "I wanted to punch him and hug him at the same time and I didn't know which one I wanted to do first." Luckily, the duo made amends and Ant returned to co-hosting award-winning shows with his mate, including Saturday Night Take Away and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

Ant became a father for the first time earlier this year when he and wife Anne-Marie Corbett welcomed baby son Wilder Patrick McPartlin into the world. Ant and Anne tied the knot in 2021 and the Britain's Got Talent presenter is stepfather to Anne-Marie's two daughter's from a past marriage. Ant was previously in a relationship with Lisa Armstrong for 23 years before the former couple ended their 11-year marriage in 2018.