The National Television Awards 2017 kicked off with a joke that the crowd loved – and one that they didn’t.
The opening skit saw host Dermot O’Leary in his dressing room, wearing a robe, sat amoung flowers and candles and signed photos of TV stars.
And while the much-loved presenter is known for his occasional forays into dance at the beginning of The X Factor live shows, singing is a new talent not yet displayed.
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Off with a bang: The National Television Awards open with Sir Tom Jones STEALING the mic from the host… as Dermot O’Leary’s Channel 4 Bake Off joke goes down like a lead balloon
Move over: Dermot wasn’t totally upstaged – he took to a back-ground mic and provided backing vocals before being given a quick opportunity for a burst of solo singing at the very end
Dermot was seen practicing his scales as he strutted around the room in various states of dress, various other TV personalities were seen weighing in on his decision to sing.
Simon Cowell was seen telling the camera it was a bad idea – ‘when Dermot said he was going to sing at the NTAs… I said… don’t.’
Fellow X Factor judge Nicole was seen asking if he could in fact sing.
Will.i.am of rival series The Voice suggested Dermot open a few buttons on his shirt to make sure the focus was somewhere other than his voice.
I’ll take it from here: Tom swooped in to relieve Dermot of his singing duties
Stepping into the spotlight: Dermot took to the stage, dressed sharply in a white tuxedo, and headed straight for the microphone… only for Tom Jones to appear, push him out of the way and start singing himself
Ant and Dec were seen mocking Dermot for the fact that he’s never actually won an NTA before.
Len Goodman of Strictly Come Dancing claimed that ‘if the country can get behind Ed Balls on Strictly the surely they’ll support Dermot’.
And indeed, Dermot took to the stage, dressed sharply in a white tuxedo, and headed straight for the microphone… only for Tom Jones to appear, push him out of the way and start singing himself.
Dermot wasn’t totally upstaged – he took to a back-ground mic and provided backing vocals before being given a quick opportunity for a burst of solo singing at the very end.
Centre stage: Len Goodman of Strictly Come Dancing claimed that ‘if the country can get behind Ed Balls on Strictly the surely they’ll support Dermot’
Pretty in pink: Scarlett Moffatt turned heads in a hot pink short suit, ready for her social media duties
While the crowd lapped this up, Dermot’s first joke didn’t go to plan.
He explained that it was the NTA’s 22nd year, before adding ‘it’s surprising we haven’t been bought by Channel 4 yet’ referring to last year’s announcement that The Great British Bake Off was moving from BBC One to the rival commercial network.
This gag wasn’t well received, however, and was met with a blank silence.
The camera honed in on Mary Berry and last year’s winner Candice Brown, who barely flinched; Candice was in fact seen looking awkwardly toward Mary, a slight grimace on her face.
Not amused: The camera honed in on Mary Berry and last year’s winner Candice Brown, who barely flinched
Moving on from this, consummate professional Dermot continued with the show, introducing Scarlett Moffatt as his social media co-host, who strutted on to stage in a hot pink short suit.
Dermot’s other gags were more well-received, noting that Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield would probably be in the same outfits on This Morning tomorrow, much like last year’s infamous all-nighter.
Ed Balls made a ‘NTA party political broadcast’ with a Strictly twist, and Danny Dyer presented Gogglebox their award as King Danny Dyer I – a nod to his Who Do You Think You Are episode when he discovered he was related to Edward III.
Danny was later interviewed backstage by Scarlett who asked if his life had been changed since his regal discovery.
‘No, the queen still hasn’t rung me!’ he explained. ‘Rude!’
