Dermot O’Leary quits after decade as National Television Awards host

DERMOT O’LEARY is stepping down as presenter of the National Television Awards after a decade hosting the ceremony.

‘It’s been a tough decision because we have had a ball over the last decade, but ten years feels about right,’ the X Factor frontman wrote on Instagram.

Thanking television producers and ITV, he added he looked forward ‘to proudly passing on the baton in 2020… and a holiday in January’.

His decision follows a jibe from fellow ITV presenter Declan Donnelly at the most recent NTA awards, when the Britain’s Got Talent host wished O’Leary a ‘happy retirement’.

O’Leary, 40, had previously said that if Ant and Dec won another award at the annual event — in a year when McPartlin was offscreen for much of the time after a drink-drive conviction — then the rest of the competition ‘may as well chuck in the towel’.

Duly picking up the ‘best presenters’ award for the 18th time, Dec could not resist saying: ‘Special mention to Dermot, who said he was going to chuck the towel in if we won this year, so happy retirement Dermot.’

Author: Andrei Harmsworth