Ex Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker has been crowned Best TV Presenter at 2025 National Television Awards.
Linker beat off competition from Alison Hammond, Stacey Solomon, Claudia Winkleman plus 23-time defending winners, Ant and Dec to win the award, just months after he left Match of the Day after 26 years at the helm until BBC bosses forced him out over his political views on social media.
In his winner’s speech, Linker joked that it was fitting that Ant and Dec’s reign ended in the year that their beloved Newcastle United ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought with victory in last season’s Carabao Cup.
“Blimey, I’ve won the Ant and Dec trophy! Alright, what to say, firstly, of course, thank you, thank you to everybody who voted for me, hugely appreciated, it’s amazing.
“I remember when I first started to present Match of the Day about two centuries ago, and there were two young Geordies just making a name for themselves, and I thought “These boys are going to win the NTA presenter award every single year until Newcastle win a trophy.”
Linker even addressed the circumstances of his acrimonious exit from Match of the Day as he described the award – as voted for by viewers – as a victory for powerful figures wishing to “use our platform to speak up for those who have no voice”.
“It’s not lost on me why I might have won this award. I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s ok to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.”
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