Gary Lineker was named best TV presenter at the National Television Awards on Wednesday, ending Ant and Dec's 23-year hold on the category.
The award, which is decided by public vote, went to Lineker following his departure from the BBC after 26 years presenting Match of the Day. Accepting the prize, Lineker thanked colleagues and said the win "demonstrates that it is OK to use your platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice." He added that he was unsure whether he would work for the BBC again and that he was "really looking forward to working with ITV."
Lineker's victory marks a rare upset at the ceremony, where Ant and Dec — the long-running presenting duo — have dominated the best TV presenter category for more than two decades. The National Television Awards are distinct from many industry prizes because every category is open to a public vote, underscoring the strength of viewer support behind the winners.
The ceremony also produced surprises in other categories. Reality competition newcomer The Traitors, one of the most-watched shows of the year, did not take home the reality prize; I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! won in the reality competition category. Other high-profile nominees across categories included shows and personalities such as Love Island, Race Across the World, Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman and Stacey Solomon, among others.
Lineker left Match of the Day at the end of the Premier League season in May. His exit followed a series of controversies over his social media posts, which prompted discussions about impartiality and public-facing roles at the BBC. The corporation and Lineker reached the end of his long tenure amid heightened scrutiny of presenters' conduct online.
The National Television Awards are broadcast live and prize popularity and viewer engagement. Winners are typically celebrated as reflecting current public tastes, and Lineker's win signals a notable shift in audience sentiment in the presenter category this year. Broadcasters and production companies will watch whether the result prompts any changes in programming or presenter line-ups as networks plan for the coming television seasons.
Full lists of nominees and winners across all categories were announced at the ceremony and include entries spanning drama, factual entertainment, comedy, daytime programming and serial drama performance. The event continued to spotlight the programmes and performers that resonated most strongly with UK viewers over the past year.