Television's golden duo, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, have finally broken their silence after their unprecedented 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards came to a dramatic end on Tuesday night.
The iconic presenting pair, who have held a near-permanent grip on the Best Presenter gong since 2001, saw their reign conclude as football pundit and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker stepped up to claim the coveted prize.
In a gracious and typically classy move, the Geordie stars were quick to publicly congratulate the new champion. Taking to their joint Twitter account, which boasts a mammoth following of over 7 million fans, they penned a heartfelt message to their fellow broadcaster.
'Ahhh what a lovely guy! Massive congratulations @GaryLineker - a thoroughly deserving winner of the NTA for Best Presenter,' the tweet read, accompanied by a series of clapping hands emojis.
The loss marks a significant moment in British television history. Ant and Dec's winning streak, which began in 2001, has been a cornerstone of the annual awards ceremony, making their defeat one of the biggest talking points of the night.
Lineker, 62, was visibly stunned as his name was read out at London's O2 Arena, beating not only the perennial favourites but also other heavyweights like Alison Hammond, Martin Lewis, and Claudia Winkleman.
The result sent shockwaves through the industry and amongst viewers, many of whom have never known an NTA ceremony where Ant and Dec didn't triumph in their category. Despite the end of an era, the pair's gracious response has been widely praised, demonstrating the sportsmanship that has made them national treasures.
Their legacy at the NTAs remains untarnished, with a staggering 22 wins from 23 nominations in the category, a record that may never be beaten.
