NTAs stars head for home! Maura Higgins leaves solo after very awkward reunion with Danny Jones following their post-Brits kiss while Lucy Fallon ditches her glam dress and heels to grab a takeaway

The stars gathered on the red carpet ahead of the National Television Awards on Wednesday evening to honour the biggest and brightest stars of the small screen.

However just hours later, the departures from the event were slightly less glamorous, as celebrities piled into taxis and picked up takeaways outside The O2 Arena following the boozy bash.

Maura Higgins smiled as she was spotted leaving solo following her very awkward reunion with Danny Jones.

The Love Island star, 34, and the McFly singer, 39, went on stage together when their show I’m A Celebrity scooped the prize for Best Reality Competition.

The pair hit headlines in February after sharing a drunken kiss together at an afterparty of the BRIT Awards – also held at the O2 Arena.

Danny saw his marriage to model Georgia rocked after being pictured cosying up to Maura at a Universal Records party, with further reports claiming the pair had continued their night until 6am, sharing wine together at Nobu Hotel bar.

Maura Higgins lefts the NTAs solo after very awkward with Danny Jones while Lucy Fallon picked up a takeaway as they lead the departures

Maura still looked incredible in a burgundy gown with a halter-style neckline and lace-up corset-style detailing

Since the scandal, neither Danny or Maura have attended any of the same events, but on Wednesday they were forced to share the same stage after I’m A Celeb’s win.

Meanwhile, Lucy Fallon couldn’t stop giggling as she left the ceremony carrying a large Wingstop bag. 

The Coronation Street star had slipped into a comfier outfit, wearing a yellow jumper and leopard print trousers on the way home. 

Josie Gibson was also in a giddy mood as he stepped out holding up her stunning black and white gown, before climbing into a taxi.

Rochelle Humes looked all partied out as she left after celebrating This Morning’s big win.

Meanwhile, Made In Chelsea star Olivia Bentley put on an animated display for the cameras, while Scarlette Douglas left with several goodie bags on her arms.

Gary Lineker, This Morning and EastEnders were among the big winners on Wednesday night, as the stars of British TV descended on London ‘s O2 Arena for the 2025 National TV Awards.

Hosted by Joel Dommett for its 30th anniversary, the awards were televised on ITV1, with the winners voted for by the public.

The Love Island star, 34, and the McFly singer, 39, went on stage together when their show I’m A Celebrity scooped the prize for Best Reality Competition

Maura was still in good spirits despite the awkward reunion 

Lucy couldn’t stop giggling as she left the ceremony carrying a large Wingstop bag

Josie Gibson also appeared in high spirits after This Morning won an award

The presenter looked slightly worse for wear as she climbed into a taxi

Rochelle Humes looked all partied out as she head for home

Olivia Bentley put on an animated display as she left the O2

Kimberley Wyatt put on a leggy display as she strut outside

The Pussycat Doll singer was seen climbing into a taxi and heading for home

Ashley and Zoe Hardman couldn’t stop laughing 

Claire Sweeney rested her eyes on route home

Molly Smith and fiancé Tom Clare posed for the cameras  

National Television Awards 2025 Winners: AT A GLANCE

Reality Competition – I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

New Drama – Adolescence

Quiz Show – The 1% Club

Factual Entertainment – Clarkson’s Farm 

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award – Michael McIntyre’s Big Show

Serial Drama Performance – Steve McFadden, Phil Mitchell, EastEnders 

Returning Drama – Call the Midwife 

Gary Lineker won the Best Presenter gong, breaking Ant and Dec’s 23 year streak

This Morning won the Best Daytime Award

TV Presenter – Gary Lineker 

Serial Drama – EastEnders

Authored Documentary – Molly-Mae: Behind It All 

Drama Performance – Owen Cooper, Jamie Miller, Adolescence

Daytime – This Morning 

Talent – Strictly Come Dancing 

Comedy – Gavin & Stacey 

 

 

And one of the biggest surprises of the night saw Gary finally bring an end to Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly ‘s 23-year winning streak, as the former footballer, 64, scored the win for Best Presenter.

The emotional presenter used his acceptance speech to take a pointed dig at his controversial departure from Match of the Day, as he declared it was ‘OK to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice’.

After 26 years, Gary presented his final show in May, after sharing a pro-Palestine Instagram video about Zionism featuring an emoji of a rat, which has anti-Semitic connotations. He apologised, but stepped down as host.

Speaking to the NTAs crowd, he admitted ‘it’s not lost on me why I might have won this award’, before ending his speech: ‘I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK sometimes to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.’

While it was also a redemption evening for This Morning, who scooped the Best Daytime gong again two years after their bruising defeat to The Repair Shop.

It also marked the first win for new hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, with Alison Hammond telling the audience how they had all been ‘humbled’ by the past two losses. 

And Strictly Come Dancing also came out champions, bagging Best Talent Show, despite a year full of scandals and controversies.

However, due to recording schedules for this year’s series, Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman and the judges were unable to be there to collect the award. 

Natalya Wright left solo after posing on the red carpet with sister Jess and mother Carol

Scarlette Douglas left with several goodie bags on her arms 

Georgia Kousoulou wowed in a red gown, but opted for comfort as she slipped her heels off and changed into slippers

Sue Devaney and her BBC journalist husband Jim O’Farrell were also spotted heading for home

Gary Lineker , This Morning and EastEnders were among the big winners on Wednesday night, as the stars of British TV descended on London ‘s O2 Arena for the 2025 National TV Awards

Hosted by Joel Dommett for its 30th anniversary, the awards were televised on ITV1, with the winners voted for by the public

And after it returned for its long-awaited finale at Christmas, beloved sitcom Gavin & Stacey won the award for Best Comedy, with Ruth Jones and Larry Lamb accepting the gong.

Jeremy Clarkson’s smash-hit show Clarkson’s Farm also came out on top, with Jeremy taking the moment to make a quip to the audience about how he was on weight-loss jab Mounjaro. 

However, Stacey Solomon suffered a further blow following on from her BAFTA  snub earlier this year, as her factual series Sort Your Life Out missed out on an NTA gong again, while she also lost out on Best Presenter.

Meanwhile Liz Hurley and Rob Rinder announced this year’s winner of the Reality Competition was I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, with reigning King of the Jungle Danny Jones leading the 2024 cast onstage to accept.

Netflix’s Adolescence also proved a hit on the evening, with the acclaimed series beating out Disney+’s Rivals for Best New Drama, and teenage star Owen Cooper winning Best Drama Performance for playing twisted killer Jamie Miller.

An emotional moment of the night saw EastEnders ‘ Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan present the Serial Drama Performance to co-star Steve McFadden, who couldn’t hold back his tears as he was honoured for his portrayal of Phil Mitchell’s mental health crisis.

And the Walford cast had plenty to celebrate, as the ceremony ended with EastEnders scoring the coveted Best Serial Drama prize.

The night kicked off with comedian Michael McIntyre scoring a huge win for his Big Show, as he scooped The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award.

Lee Mack’s The 1% Club was voted Best Quiz Show this year, with the comedian using his time on stage to poke fun at Gary.

The night kicked off with comedian Michael McIntyre scoring a huge win for his Big Show, as he scooped The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award 

And it was a big night for former Love Island star Molly Mae Hague as she walked away with the award for Authored Documentary 

Meanwhile, the final ever series of Vera lost out to the BBC ‘s Call The Midwife for Best Returning Drama.

And it was a big night for former Love Island star Molly Mae Hague as she walked away with the award for Authored Documentary.

Her series, which initially charted her breakup last year from Tommy Fury, beat off stiff competition from Boyzone: No Matter What, Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, There’s Only One Rob Burrow and Freddie Flintoff.

Animated BBC series Wallace and Gromit also received a special recognition award during the night, with creator Nick Park collecting the gong.

The red carpet arrivals were hosted by Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks for the second year in a row, who also took to the stage to hand out a gong.

The NTAs were established back in 1995 to give the public a voice when it came to recognising TV talent – as previously, awards had always been dished out by industry professionals.

Described as a ‘celebration of the nation’s most loved stars and shows’, people have had the opportunity to vote via post, telephone, and online.