VIDEO: Ant and Dec triumph at NTA awards

The pair, who won the entertainment presenter award for the thirteenth year running, also saw I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! which they host, win the entertainment programme award.

They finished off the night with the prestigious landmark award which came complete with a tribute from the Prince of Wales who said: “The warmth and empathy they show towards charitable causes, their viewers and their deep friendship towards one another are as great achievements as their countless and well-deserved awards. The nation has taken them to their hearts.”

Their video tribute included appearances from their mothers, Robbie Williams and Simon Cowell.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer also put in an appearance, describing them as “the most famous double act from Newcastle”.

Accepting the special award, Dec thanked Ant saying: “Neither of us would be here if it wasn’t for each other.”

It was also a good night for Coronation Street, which won the serial drama award, and actress Julie Hesmondhalgh who won the serial drama performance award.

Her character Hayley Cropper has been at the centre of the controversial right-to-die storyline which ended with her suicide on Monday.

Among the actors she beat to the prize was David Neilson who plays her on-screen husband Roy.

Accepting her award with Neilson by her side, she told the audience: “We said that if either of us were lucky enough to get this we’d come up together because there ain’t no Hayley without Roy and there ain’t no Roy without Hayley.”

The climax of the plot, which saw Hayley take an overdose after giving up her struggle with incurable cancer, pulled in millions more viewers and prompted an increase in calls to The Samaritans.

Accepting the serial drama award for the ITV soap, Neilson said shows like Coronation Street can “create a feeling of community”.

He said: “Occasionally you get a huge reaction from a story and you realise how important these shows are because when people laugh together, cry together you get community.”

The awards, hosted by Dermot O’Leary at London’s O2, kicked off with X Factor winner Sam Bailey duetting with her hero Michael Bolton on the soul classic Ain’t No Mountain High Enough with the help of the school choir from documentary series Educating Yorkshire.

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