David Attenborough ends Ant and Dec’s NTA presenter run as duo leave empty-handed again
Ant and Dec’s long grip on the National Television Awards presenter prize slipped again on Wednesday night, with Sir David Attenborough taking the Best Prese...
Ant and Dec’s long grip on the National Television Awards presenter prize slipped again on Wednesday night, with Sir David Attenborough taking the Best Presenter title and leaving the duo without a win at the ceremony for the first time in 25 years.
The result mattered well beyond the room in London. For a quarter of a century, the pair had turned the category into one of the NTAs’ most predictable contests. This time, they were beaten by a 100-year-old broadcasting figure whose name still carries weight far beyond Britain.
A streak broken, then extended
Until 2025, Ant and Dec had won the TV Presenter award at the NTAs for 23 straight years. That run ended last year when Gary Lineker took the prize. With Lineker not in the category this year, the door looked open for the presenting duo to reclaim it.
It did not happen. Attenborough won instead, ahead of Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman and Stacey Solomon. He did not attend the ceremony himself.
Short. Sharp. Done.
A legend at 100
Attenborough’s win brought another twist to a category long dominated by familiar faces from mainstream British television. The natural historian has remained active in recent months, presenting Wild London and A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough. He was also featured in the retrospective documentary Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure.
His latest recognition comes as broadcasters continue to lean on a small group of high-profile names that still pull strong public support. In Britain, the NTAs are driven by viewer votes, and that keeps the contest open to surprises. This was one of them.
What happens next
The loss leaves Ant and Dec without any NTA wins this year, after their earlier dominance had made even a single defeat feel newsworthy. Their 23-year streak had already gone, but this second straight setback underlines how the category has shifted away from automatic winners.
Attenborough’s year is not done yet. It has also been confirmed that he will narrate Blue Planet III later this year, following the first Blue Planet series in 2001 and the sequel in 2017.
The next test for Ant and Dec will not wait long. The presenter category now has a new benchmark to beat.
