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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Amy Denman

NTA viewers call for Ricky Gervais to host next year after lack of Queue-gate jokes

National Television Awards viewers have called for Ricky Gervais to host next year's awards ceremony, after being left disappointed by the lack of jokes about Queue-gate.

The glittering awards ceremony, which took place at the OVO Arena in Wembley, was hosted on Thursday October 13 by Joel Dommett.

Fans were expecting digs at Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, after they were falsely accused of skipping to queue to see the Queen lying in state, but were left disappointed.

Now, some viewers have now called for After Life creator Ricky, 61, to step into the hosting role and called for more jokes about the nominees – namely, Holly, 41, and Phil, 60.

National Television Awards viewers are calling for Ricky Gervais to become host (Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)
Ricky picked up the comedy gong for his Netflix hit After Life (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)

As they watched the live ceremony on Thursday evening, some took to Twitter to call for the Derek comedian, who has previously hosted the Golden Globes, to step in.

One wrote: "Just get Ricky Gervais to host. The queue jumpers would start shivering. #ntas".

"Should definately have been Ricky Gervais hosting. #NTAs," [sic] another penned.

Joel Dommett hosted this year's ceremony (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)
Joel took over from David Walliams in 2021 (PA)

As a third admitted: "I wish we had Ricky Gervais presenting, or anyone with a bit of an edge who would make a queue jumping joke about Holz and Phil #NTAs".

Ricky and his After Life cast won the comedy gong for the evening and the show writer chose to spend the rest of the evening celebrating with his cat rather than out partying.

He posted a photo of himself and his moggy on Twitter and penned: "Out partying, celebrating my big #NTA win. Definitely not home, watching telly, cuddling the cat.".

Lenny Henry made a dig about Queue-gate in his acceptance speech (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Meanwhile as the star-studded ceremony continued hosted by Joel, after he took over from David Walliams in 2021, some were left questioning where the jokes about Queue-gate were.

One viewer wrote: "Just wish someone would of made a joke about queue jumping #NTA #nta2022".

"If Dommet doesn't ask Phil & Holly what the queue was like getting in, he's even failing at entry level humour #NTAs," another said.

And, while watching, a third admitted: "praying to the heavens joel dommett make a queue jumping joke".

NTA viewers erupted on Twitter after the joke (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)

Viewers were left delighted when Sir Lenny Henry made a joke about Queue-gate as he picked up his Special Recognition gong.

As he took to the stage after tributes were paid to him by Alesha Dixon, Mo Gilligan, Sir Trevor McDonald and more, the 64-year-old couldn't resist making a dig.

He said: "This show is so long that David Beckham is still queueing outside," making reference to David 'refusing the offer' of jumping the queue to see the Queen – while Holly and Phil were falsely accused of skipping it.

Viewers of the awards show reacted with delight on Twitter as one wrote: "Yes Lenny made reference to the Queue and David Beckham," followed by a trio of laughing face emojis.

"A QUEUE JUMPING JOKE YESSSS SIR LENNY HENRY Wish the camera panned to Phil and Holly," a second added.

And a third wrote: "Classic Lenny Henry in the presence of Phil&Holly, David Beckham is still queuing outside #NTAs."

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