There was a surprising turn of events as Gary Lineker won the prestigious Best Presenter award at this year’s NTAs, beating out Ant and Dec. Alesha Dixon announced the unexpected victory, marking the first time in 24 years that the Geordie duo missed out on the award.
Gary, who recently left his long-standing role as the presenter of BBC’s Match of the Day, was visibly shocked as he received the accolade. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly had dominated the Best TV Presenter category at the National Television Awards for an unprecedented 23 consecutive years, making this win a significant upset for fans.
In a light-hearted moment, Gary humorously referred to the award as the “Ant and Dec trophy.” He also teased Newcastle United fans, joking about their loss in the same year the Magpies achieved their first trophy win in 70 years. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of using one’s platform to advocate for those who may not have a voice.
Esteemed broadcaster Gary, aged 64, was honored shortly after his early departure from BBC’s Match Of The Day in May. His exit from the show was prompted by controversies surrounding his social media activity, particularly a post in May 2025 related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that inadvertently included a rat emoji.
While Lineker expressed regret for sharing the post and clarified his lack of awareness regarding the image’s implications, the incident led to his premature exit from the show. The BBC also confirmed that he would not be part of their coverage for the 2026 World Cup or the 2025/26 FA Cup.
Competing against Claudia Winkleman, Alison Hammond, and Stacey Solomon, the I’m A Celebrity presenters and former footballer, Gary attended the ceremony with his sons. Prior to the announcement, Gary received support from his The Rest is Football podcast colleague Alan Shearer, who broke the expected trend by backing Lineker for the award.
During a recent episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker shared his excitement about the NTA nominations. Despite initial skepticism about his chances of winning, both Shearer and Micah Richards encouraged him, with Shearer admitting to voting for Lineker.
The lighthearted banter between the friends added to the anticipation of the award announcement, with Gary ultimately securing the unexpected win at the NTAs.