Lineker ends duo's long dominance at TV awards

FORMER Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker and Adolescence star Owen Cooper were among the winners at this year’s National Television Awards (NTAs).

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Lineker, 64, was shortlisted for the best TV presenter award just months after his exit from the BBC show in May, following a row after he shared a post about Zionism which featured a depiction of a rat - historically an antisemitic insult.

The former footballer broke the 23-year winning streak of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and also beat competition from The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, This Morning's Alison Hammond and reality TV star Stacey Solomon.

Collecting the award, he said: “I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK sometimes for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.”

Lineker also said Ant and Dec are “brilliant” and added “it’s an honour to follow in their footsteps” when he was questioned at the winner’s press conference.

He said: “I’m doing great. I’m enjoying having weekends off for the first time in my adult life, which has been great fun.