Dermot O’Leary steps down as National Television Awards host after 10 years

Dermot O’Leary is stepping down as host of the National Television Awards.

Dermot will say goodbye to overseeing the yearly ceremony after 10 years, he announced today (Wednesday, 13 February).

In a post on Instagram, Dermot shared: “After 10 years of proudly hosting the National Television Awards, I have decided it’s time to step down as host.

“It’s been a tough decision because we have had a ball over the last decade, but 10 years feels about right.

“I would like to thank Indigo and my ITV family for a brilliant ten years and look forward to proudly passing on the baton in 2020… and a holiday in January!”

A spokesperson for ITV said: “ITV and Indigo Television thank Dermot for a decade at the helm of the National Television Awards, he’s a brilliant presenter and one of the best live event hosts in the business.

“As a highly valued member of the ITV family we respect his decision and we look forward to continuing working with him.”

Voted for entirely by the public, the National Television Awards celebrate the most popular shows and people on British TV. Next year will celebrate the landmark 25th ceremony.

Meanwhile, Dermot has hit back at news reports claiming he ‘raged’ at Ant and Dec over their nomination at this year’s awards.

A newspaper front page had accused Dermot of ‘hitting out’ at the Geordie duo after they were nominated for the best TV presenters.

Ant and Dec ended up picking up the award for a record 18th year, but it proved controversial given Ant wasn’t on TV for much of 2018. He stepped down from his commitments half way through Saturday Night Takeaway, missing the final episodes of that series, the Britain’s Got Talent live shows and all of I’m A Celebrity.

The Daily Star newspaper had quoted Dermot as saying about the situation: “If Ant and Dec win it this year, we should just not do it anymore If they win it, we may as well just chuck in the towel.

“With the greatest respect to the boys, I think Holly has had such a great year, and Graham.”

Dermot responded to the article on Twitter, claiming his remarks were tongue in cheek.

“I said no such thing. I merely joked that if the boys win this year, we should all chuck in the towel. It was neither serious nor a ‘rage.’!” he posted on social media.