Maura Higgins and Danny Jones shared an awkward and very public reunion at the National Television Awards on Wednesday night.
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.
The McFly singer, 39, 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.
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.
With hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly absent to collect the gong, the 2024 I’m A Celebrity cast took to the stage all together, with Danny giving the acceptance speech as the reigning champion, while Maura stood mere feet away.
National Television Awards viewers have reacted to the awkward moment Maura Higgins and Danny Jones reunited on stage to collect a gong
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 pictured)
Fans flooded X with comments about the encounter, with some insisting it was one of the most painfully awkward moments of the night.
They said: ‘Danny and Maura on stage …… I wouldn’t be happy if I was the wife
‘Was really hoping Maura wouldn’t be there. I know Danny and Georgia have moved past what happened but it must be hard for Georgia seeing them onstage together’,
‘The MESS of danny and maura being in the same shot after what happened at last years NTAs’,
‘Looool Danny and Maura having to share the same stage after everything’,
‘Let’s hope Danny and Maura can keep their hands off each other this time’,
‘Danny and Maura on stage together #NTAs.’
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.
Since the scandal, neither Danny or Maura have been attended any of the same events, but on Wednesday they were forced to share the same stage after I’m A Celeb’s win (seen on show together)
Fans flooded X with comments about the encounter, with some insisting it was one of the most painfully awkward moments of the night
Hosted by Joel Dommett for its 30th anniversary, the awards were televised on ITV1, with the winners voted for by the public.
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.’
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 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’
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
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.
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.
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
And 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.
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.
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
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.
