Piers Morgan desperate to end Ant & Dec's NTAs streak
Piers Morgan is desperate to win the Best Presenter prize at the National Television Awards (NTAs), as it would deny Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly a 20th consecutive win.
The duo are favourites to win the gong at the TV prizegiving on Thursday, as they have locked up the title for two decades - even winning in 2018 when Ant's personal woes meant he had to take a break from their double act.
However, former Good Morning Britain host Morgan, who is nominated alongside the Geordie pair, Alison Hammond, Holly Willoughby, and Bradley Walsh, wants to spoil their party.
"I deserve to win because everyone's sick and tired of Ant & Dec automatically winning this award, which bears no relation to reality," he told The Mirror. "They've done nothing special in the last year, even they would admit that."
Slamming his rivals, he added: "I think it's time the procession came to a shuddering halt and the Morgan bandwagon was rewarded with glory. We can't have those two little vain-glorious Geordies standing there for the 20th consecutive year.
"Ant got one one year when he hadn't even worked. It's ridiculous. I'm taking a leaf out of his book, I haven't really done much presenting in the last six months. So, therefore, by the Ant & Dec rule, I should get it."
The controversial broadcaster has another reason he wants to win too - to put one over on ITV chiefs following his exit from Good Morning Britain over an outburst in which he doubted Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's account of mental health troubles. Officials at TV watchdog Ofcom cleared him over the comments earlier this month.
Morgan said: “It will obviously be awkward for the ITV bosses if I ended up being voted presenter of the year. I’ve already had the number one best-selling book. If I was to then get TV presenter of the year as well in the aftermath of what happened, I think that would be ‘hashtag awks’, as they say in younger circles."
The NTAs air live on ITV from 7.30 pm.
