Inside the National Television Awards: This Morning misses out for the first time in 12 YEARS, Ant and Dec beat Alison Hammond to claim their 22nd gong and Happy Valley win TWICE on a night of tears and triumph at the O2

It was a night of what ifs for Alison Hammond and flagship show This Morning, but it was business as usual for Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as the National Television Awards got underway on Tuesday evening. 

Beneath the lights of London’s O2 Arena, it was Ant and Dec who claimed their 22nd NTA at the annual ceremony following a successful return to the Australian jungle with ITV1 juggernaut I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The pair claimed the award ahead of the much fancied Hammond, notably selected ahead of her This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby in the category for Best Presenter.

Meanwhile This Morning lost its best daytime show title at the as The Repair Shop claimed the prize.

It comes as the ITV morning programme, which has been on a winning streak in the daytime category for the last number of years, continues to face backlash amid the furore of the Phillip Schofield affair.

Unexpected: The Repair Shop beat This Morning to Best Daytime at the National Television Awards on Tuesday evening 

Mixed emotions: It was a night of what ifs for Alison Hammond , but it was business as usual for Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as the event got underway 

Well done: Beneath the lights of London’s O2 Arena, it was Ant and Dec who claimed their 22nd NTA at the annual ceremony 

Success: The pair claimed the award ahead of the much fancied Hammond, notably selected ahead of her This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby in the category for Best Presenter

The Repair Shop host Jay Blades encouraged the crowd to cheer as the show’s team took to the stage at The O2 and took a picture of the moment as he noted it was a “rarity” for them to be winning the prize.

Blades thanked those who voted and the team behind the show, adding: ‘I would like to salute my experts, they are my family.’

He also praised his fellow nominees at This Morning, The Chase and Loose Women, saying: “We’re the new kids on the block ad I’m glad we’ve won this time.

‘I know it won’t be a regular thing so thank you.’ 

Ant and Dec – who were also competing with Martin Lewis, Claudia Winkleman and Bradley Walsh for Best Presenter – admitted they were “more nervous than ever” before going into the event on Tuesday evening, but were just as “humbled and grateful” to receive the honour as they had ever been.

Ant said: ‘Thank you so much to the NTAs we’ve got quite a long list of thank yous, all of the shows and the people we work with, we are the luckiest two men on telly because we’ve got the best production teams and the best people to work with, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’ 

His presenting partner Declan Donnelly added: ‘Thank you to ITV, to Kevin and Katie and all the team at ITV for your continued support. Thank you to our fantastic management team for your support, thank you gang, you’re up in the box somewhere.

‘Thank you to our lovely wives, our beautiful children. I can’t believe that we are still getting away with this…’

All smiles: But Hammond missed out on her first major award at the NTAs on Tuesday night 

Best pals: Holly Willoughby was on hand to support co-host Hammond at the O2 Arena 

Admission: Ant and Dec – who were also competing with Martin Lewis , Claudia Winkleman and Bradley Walsh for Best Presenter – admitted they were “more nervous than ever” before going into the event on Tuesday evening 

Stunned: The pair were elated as their names were announced at the O2 Arena 

Pledge: The ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ presenters promised to keep working together for as long as possible

Ant interrupted: Were you more nervous than ever?’ 

Dec agreed: ‘Ever before, hands are sticky, my heart is beating, but we are as humbled and grateful tonight as we were the first time we won, so thank you for taking the time to vote for us, we really appreciate it.’ 

The ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ presenters promised to keep working together for as long as possible.

Dec said: ‘We’ll see you back on telly very soon.’ 

Ant added: ‘We’ll keep doing it for as long as you want us to keep doing it.’ 

Elsewhere Danielle Harold cried as she picked up the Serial Drama Performance Award for her former role in EastEnders. 

The actress appeared genuinely stunned as she made her way onto the stage after her portrayal of brain tumour victim Lola Pearce-Brown’s final days saw her scoop the accolade ahead of Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt and Coronation Street stars Charlotte Jordan and Maureen Lipman.

Delighted: Bobby Brazier got a kiss from Danielle Harold after winning the Rising Star award 

Unbelievable: Dad Jeff leapedm to his feet after Bobby’s name was announced on Tuesday 

Thank you: The young actor credied his father as he accepted the award at London’s O2 Arena 

Accepting the award from Michelle Collins – who excitedly shouted “Yes” when she read out Danielle’s name, the actress said: ‘I literally… I really didn’t prepare anything, I thought this is the biggest, biggest, biggest shock and I can’t believe I’m standing in front of the O2.

‘I just want to say literally every single person who had an input into this storyline and the research, guys this is for you.

‘Please give money to Brain Tumour Research UK, they need it so, so much, they really do.’ 

She added: ‘I just want to take a minute to thank all the cast and Chris, and everyone who supported me, Julia Crampsie who brought me into the show, guys I love you so much without your support I couldn’t do this, thank you so much.’ 

Earlier in the evening, the TV Interview honour went to The Graham Norton Show but unlike category rivals Louis Theroux, Piers Morgan and Chris and Rosie Ramsay, the host wasn’t at the ceremony to be able to accept the accolade in person

The Traitors won the Reality Competition prize, while the third season of ‘Happy Valley’ landed the Returning Drama honour.

Triumph: EastEnders rounded off the night by winning the award for Best Serial Drama 

Loving it: The entire cast posed backstage with their award after Tuesday evening’s show 

Thank you: Gillian Taylforth addressed the audience after collecting the gong 

Emotional: Sarah Lancashire was reduced to tears after accepting her award for Best Drama performance in Happy Valley 

All mine: Former EastEnders star Danielle Harold with the award for Serial Drama Performance

Can’t believe it: There were tears onstage as Danielle accepted her award from EastEnders legend Michelle Collins 

Unreal: The actress broke down as she gave her speech during Tuesday evening’s ceremony 

High glamour: Michelle Collins looked stunning as she took to the stage to present the award 

Loving it: There were cheers from the cast as Danielle’s name was announced 

Here you go: Danielle struggled to contain her emotions as she received the gong 

The evening’s first award, the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award, was presented to Gogglebox. 

Happy Valley also triumphed on the night, with the show winning in the category for Returning Drama, while actress Sarah Lancashire claimed the award for best Drama Performance. 

The actress saw off tough competition from her co-star James Norton, Queen Charlotte’s India Amarteifio, Vera’s Brenda Blethyn and Call The Midwife’s Judy Parfitt to claim the prize.

Collecting the award on stage, she said: ‘Thank you so much for this. I have adored every scene, every moment of Happy Valley and I know I will never forget it.

She praised creator Sally Wainwright saying that she is “what makes Happy Valley” and that you are the “luckiest actor in the world” if you are a receipt of her words.

Elsewhere This Is England actress Vicky McClure said that she was “shaking” during the Our Dementia Choir performance at the annual event. 

McClure, 40, who is the founder of the choir, spoke live at the NTA’s and said: ‘I am shaking through pride that I am feeling right now to witness Our Dementia Choir playing at the O2.”

She added: ‘Our mission is to share knowledge, raise awareness and aid research to help find a cure, but also to remind everyone that with the right hearts and minds you really can change people’s lives for the better.’ 

Joel Dommett kicked off proceedings on Tuesday, telling the audience: ‘My wife is actually nine months pregnant, she is due basically now.’ 

He joked that if his partner, Hannah Cooper, goes into labour, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are on stand by to take her to the hospital.

Gogglebox took home the first award of the night, The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award.

The reality TV series beat The Masked Singer and Ant and Dec, who were nominated for two of their shows, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Saturday Night Takeaway.