ANT and Dec’s reign at the National Television Awards has finally come to an end.
The Geordie duo have won the Best Presenter gong at the annual awards ceremony for the past 23 years.
Gary Lineker won the Best Presenter gong at the NTAs
Ant and Dec missed the ceremony, having finally been beaten for the first time in 23 years
Gary’s sons watched proudly on
But tonight they were pipped to the title by former host .
Accepting the award on stage, Gary hinted he felt it was a finger up to the Beeb.
He said: “I think it demonstrates that perhaps its ok, sometimes, to use our platform to speak up.”
Gary added: “I won the Ant and Dec award!
“What to say, firstly of course thank you thank you to everybody who voted for me.
“I hugely appreciate it, it’s amazing.
“I remember when I first started to present MOTD about a quarter of a century ago it was these two young Geordes who were just making a name for themselves and I thought to myself these boys are going to win this NTA award every single year until newcastle win a trophy
“So there you have it.
“It’s not possible to understand why I might have won this award, aside from presenting match of the day, the most iconic football show on TV for 26 years, and there’s so many amazing people that I’ve worked with both in front of the camera and behind.
“I want to say a massive thank you to each and every one of them,I wouldn’t be here without them.
“I think it demonstrates that perhaps its ok, sometimes, to use our platform to speak up.”
The other contenders were , and .
In the winners’ room, Gary told The Sun: “I’m in shock. Someone has won this for 23 years so it’s a surprise. It is beautiful, it is amazing. I’m just emotional really
“But Ant and Dec are brilliant and it is an honour to follow in their footsteps.
“I don’t think anyone seriously thought I was cancelled – it was obviously just a mistake and an oversight.
“I was never in the slightest bit concerned about that.
“It’s no doubt that this sends a message that you can speak your mind and have your views.”
Gary’s win comes three months after he presented his final episode of Match of the Day.
On life after the BBC footy show, he added: “I’m doing great, I’m enjoying having weekend off for the first time in my adult life.
“I have a new show coming up with ITV called The Box which is filming soon but I can’t give too much away.
“I don’t know if I’d work with the BBC again, I’m really looking forward to working with ITV though and my podcast business.”
Gary thanks viewers for voting for him
The 64-year-old presented the flagship sports show for 26 years before his departure.
Speaking before his win on the NTAs red carpet, Gary said: “This is my third time at the NTAs.I’m here for the canapes!
“I lived in hope of beating Ant and Dec, we can only live in hope.
“They’ve won it for a long time. There’s got to be one day when they might not win.”
were not present at London‘s O2 Arena to show their gracious loser faces, as they’re currently in South Africa preparing to film the second series of I’m A Celebrity: All Stars.
Earlier they posted a video online with a stunning backdrop, with Dec saying: “Just us coming to you from . Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who voted for us.
Ant added: “Yes thank you so much, we really appreciate it and sorry we can’t be there but we’re in South Africa! It’s an honour to even be nominated.”
Dec added: “I don’t think they have it on South African telly. You’ll have to text us!”
The duo first won the gong in 2001 when it was called the Most Popular Entertainment Award.
in person, Dec said: “Thank you – it’s really hard to put into words just how this feels and what it means to us that you take the time to vote for us.”
Ant described the gong as a “joy” and joked that one day they will not collect it, saying: “What can we say? Thank you so much.
“It’s really, really hard to put into words just how this feels year after year and how much it means to us that you take the time to vote for us and make us your winners.”
“Honestly, it’s a joy, we know we’re not gonna win it one year but it’s not tonight, thank God.”
Unfortunately, tonight turned out to be the night they had been dreading.
Alesha Dixon presented him with the gong 
