This Morning staff 'upset' over NTA snub as ITV 'slim down' invites due to cuts

03 September 2023 , 13:40

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This Morning staff 'upset' over NTA snub as ITV 'slim down' invites due to cuts

This Morning bosses have reportedly been accused of failing to invite backroom staff to the National Television Awards next week amid the cost of living crisis.

Fewer staff from the ITV daytime TV programme are said to be attending the glitzy bash on Tuesday, with sources claiming bosses "know it isn’t going to be a stellar year for This Morning after all the scandal" - adding how the alleged snub "doesn’t help to shut down rumours of a toxic atmosphere".

This Morning is up for best daytime show at the National Television Awards once again and will defend its title for the first time since Phillip Schofield 's exit from ITV earlier this year. Schofield and Holly had been longlisted for the best TV presenter prize, alongside fellow This Morning stars Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, Rylan Clark and Martin Lewis, but only Alison and Martin made the cut.

But despite This Morning and one of its presenters being in the running to take home some gongs to add to its bulging trophy cabinet, not everyone who works on the ITV show behind-the-scenes will be there to see if the show retains its title as best daytime show - reportedly leaving some staff "upset".

Former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield accepting the ITV show's award last year (Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)

"People are upset at the slimming down as the show is such a group effort and the awards are usually a big night out for the whole team. They’re blaming the cost-of-living crisis but seem to be splashing the cash elsewhere. It doesn’t help to shut down rumours of a toxic atmosphere," a TV source claims.

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The insider goes on to tell The Sun how they think the slimmed-down guestlist could be down to bosses predicting it won't be "a stellar year" for This Morning after a year of scandals, with any ITV source adding how fewer staff will be attending the NTAs due to "budget cuts".

ITV declined to comment when approached by the Mirror.

Last year's NTAs saw Schofield party without then best pal Holly, after the two stars 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 annual bash early after their win - reportedly sneaking out and heading home around 10pm.

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

Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV 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.

Zoe Delaney