The National Television Awards, known as the NTAs, are one of the highlights of the year for UK TV shows but one of the country’s iconic shows won’t have any stars present.
The stars of Strictly Come Dancing will not be making an appearance at tonight’s (10 September) ceremony, which takes place only a day after this year’s contestant, Thomas Skinner, makes headlines for storming out of a press event.
Yesterday (9 September), Thomas Skinner left Strictly’s official press launch in a rage. The former Apprentice star was seen snatching a reporter’s phone and storming out of interviews after he took issue with being recorded as he spoke, leaving fellow Strictly celeb Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to to answer questions alone.
Though the show hasn’t even started, Skinner’s time linked to it has already been contentious, with many fans saying they did not want to man and his controversial politics to be platformed via the show. After the incident at the launch event, there was speculation Skinner would be dropped or quit, but the BBC is seemingly allowing him to remain and, according to an insider, is expected to do so.
They told The Mirror: “He’s expected to continue. It was a surprise turn of events yesterday but hopefully everything will return to normal today.”
Following the events, however, no Strictly stars will be at the NTAs. But this is not because of Skinner or his actions. Rather they are all too busy, as the ceremony clashes with the planned filming on the launch show, which also takes place today.
Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, alongside judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse will all be welcoming the 15 new celebs and revealing who has been matched with who. Like always, the episode is pre-recorded so while they will be filming today, the show won’t air until 20 September.
Yesterday, Shirley Ballas also appeared on The One Show to talk about this year’s competition and cryptically revealed that some changes are being made. “There are some minute changes, so I’ll be interested to see if the audience can spot those. Things that you will expect to be maybe there and there, are not suddenly there and there. They’re here and here, that’s all I’m saying.”
Because of the clash in schedules, the Strictly stars will not be at tonight’s NTAs. Taking place at the O2 arena, comedian Joel Dommett will present for the fifth year running. However, despite the absence of the Strictly crew, the show will still feature as it and two of its stars have been nominated in three categories all together.
Strictly itself is nominated in the talent show category, and will go up against Britain’s Got Talent, The Voice UK, The Great British Bake Off and The Great Pottery Throwdown. If it wins, it will be 10 years in a row for the series.
Meanwhile, co-presenter Claudia Winkelman, though not recognised for Strictly, has been nominated for best presenter for her role in The Traitors. She has been nominated alongside Alison Hammond, Stacey Solomon, Gary Lineker and Ant and Dec.
Likewise, professional dancer Amy Dowden has been nominated for authored documentary for her BBC doc Cancer and Me, following her battle with breast cancer.
