This Morning nominated for first NTA since Phillip Schofield's dramatic ITV exit

14 August 2023 , 23:01

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This Morning has been nominated for best daytime show at the National Television Awards once again and defended its title for the first time since Phillip Schofield 's exit from ITV earlier this year.

Schofield, 61, resigned from the channel and was dropped by his talent agency YMU in May after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" relationship with a younger male colleague on the show. Prior to admitting the workplace affair, Schofield quit This Morning days before making the revelation.

Holly Willoughby, who hosted alongside Schofield from 2009 onwards, has continued to present the show with a series of co-stars, while MPs have called on ITV bosses to address claims of toxicity and bullying behind the scenes. This Morning will go up against The Chase, Loose Women and The Repair Shop when it defends its title later this year.

Schofield and Holly had been longlisted for the best TV presenter prize, alongside fellow This Morning hosts Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, Rylan Clark and Martin Lewis, but only Alison and Martin made the cut. Schofield and Holly both failed to receive nominations for last year's ceremony.

This Morning nominated for first NTA since Phillip Schofield's dramatic ITV exit eiqetiquziqhtinv

Last year's National Television Awards came amid the queue gate scandal (Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)

Former Big Brother star Alison and Money Saving Expert Martin will compete against Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who took the award for the 21st year in a row at last year’s ceremony, as well as The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman and The Chase’s Bradley Walsh.

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Last year's NTAs saw Schofield party without then best pal Holly, after the two presenters received a mixed reaction as This Morning won the NTA for Best Daytime Show for the fifth year in a row on October 13. Holly apparently left the star-studded ceremony early after their win - reportedly sneaking out and heading home around 10pm.

Schofield and Holly were once well known to have enjoyed an afterparty tipple in the past and presented their morning-after show hungover on a number of occasions over the years - much to the delight of viewers. However, last year's NTAs came just weeks on from the former pals being accused of cutting in line to see the late Queen lying in state following the monarch's death the month before.

The shortlist for this year's NTAs also sees Dame Deborah James and Paul O’Grady posthumously recognised in the nominations, with Dame Deborah named in the authored documentary category, for Bowelbabe In Her Own Words. Dame Deborah set up the Bowelbabe cancer research fund and died last year at the age of 40 after suffering bowel cancer.

Paul's ITV show For The Love Of Dogs was listed in the factual entertainment category after the heartbreaking death of the TV presenter and comedian earlier this year. It will compete against Clarkson’s Farm, Sort Your Life Out and The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

Two shows presented by Ant and Dec are in the running for the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment award – I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Saturday Night Takeaway. The Geordie duo have announced they will be taking a break from the latter show after its 20th series in 2024.

Also in the running are Gogglebox and The Masked Singer, while Britain’s Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee are nominated for best talent show. In a new category this year, Piers Morgan is nominated for the TV interview prize for Piers Morgan Uncensored on Talk TV, alongside Louis Theroux Interviews…, The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show and The Graham Norton Show.

In the drama performance category, Happy Valley stars James Norton and Sarah Lancashire will face off against each other, competing against Vera’s Brenda Blethyn and Call the Midwife’s Judy Parfitt, as well as India Amarteifio for her role in Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte.

The climax of Happy Valley is in the running for the returning drama prize, alongside Stranger Things, Call The Midwife and Vera. Netflix ’s Queen Charlotte is also recognised in the new drama category, alongside Death In Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise, police drama Blue Lights and viral sensation Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega as Addams Family character Wednesday Addams.

Newly announced Strictly Come Dancing contestant Bobby Brazier is nominated in the newcomer category for his role as Freddie Slater in EastEnders, alongside Benjamin Chivers for The Devil’s Hour, Channique Sterling-Brown for Coronation Street and Emmerdale ’s Lewis Cope.

The final round of voting for the NTAs is open and the winners will be announced at the ceremony hosted by Joel Dommett at The O2 on September 5.