David Walliams makes 'nasty' joke about embattled Love Island host Caroline Flack at the NTAs

David Walliams made a joke about embattled Love Island host Caroline Flack while presenting the National Television Awards at London‘s O2 Arena on Tuesday night – and it didn’t go down well.

David, 48, was branded ‘nasty’ by viewers after his gag ‘went down like a lead balloon’.

The Little Britain actor – who was hosting the NTAs for the first time, having taken the reins from previous frontman Dermot O’Leary – welcomed Joel Dommett to the stage to present the Best Serial Drama gong.

Like a lead balloon: David Walliams made a joke about embattled Love Island host Caroline Flack while presenting the National Television Awards at London ‘s O2 Arena on Tuesday night – and it didn’t go down well

Joel was joined by Hedgehog from his show The Masked Singer – an unknown person dressed up in an oversized animal costume. 

After Emmerdale won the award and the cast of the soap vacated the stage, along with Joel and Hedgehog, David quipped: ‘It’s nice to see Caroline Flack back on TV!’

His insinuation that Caroline was inside the costume was met by a shocked silence and then a sea of boos from those in the audience.

David was referencing Caroline’s recent troubles, which saw her arrested and charged with assault a few days before Christmas, leading to her stepping down from her role as Love Island host, just before the winter series kicked off in January.

Bad taste: David, 48, was branded ‘nasty’ by viewers after his gag ‘went down like a lead balloon’. Caroline has been keeping out of the spotlight since, battling her personal issues, while Laura Whitmore has stood in for her

‘It’s nice to see Caroline Flack back on TV!’ Joel Dommett took to the stage, joined by Hedgehog from his show The Masked Singer – an unknown person dressed up in an oversized animal costume

Low blow: David joked that Caroline was actually hiding inside the Hedgehog costume

Filling in: Laura Whitmore has been standing in as Caroline’s replacement during the current season of Love Island

Not amused: Viewers – including David’s fellow ITV star Piers Morgan – felt the joke was in bad taste, given the difficult issues Caroline has been facing personally and professionally

Caroline has been keeping out of the spotlight since, battling her personal issues, while Laura Whitmore has stood in for her.

And viewers – including David’s fellow ITV star Piers Morgan – felt the joke was in bad taste, given the difficult issues Caroline has been facing personally and professionally.

‘I seriously cannot understand why people think this man is funny – Walliams whole presentation of the awards was crass, awkward and inappropriate oh and… so unfunny too. How dare he attack L Fox and C Flack. What a dreadful job he did tonight,’ someone posted on Twitter, referencing a jibe David also made about actor Laurence Fox’s recent controversy.

Another penned: ‘What happened to the NTAs tonight?It was awful to watch. David Walliams should never be allowed anywhere near that programme again. The reaction to the Caroline Flack dig said it all!’

Another posted: ‘David Walliams should be sacked. That was bad the nasty dig at Caroline Flack crossed the line!’

‘What a car crash Walliams is at the NTAs never watching that again – his snide nasty remarks about Fox and Flack – no need nasty man,’ came another tweet.

Fans of the NTAs also accused the Britain’s Got Talent judge of ‘making the ceremony all about him’ after he was lowered onto the stage at the start of the awards as a choir sang for him, introduced a montage of his own past NTA achievements and accepted his own award without any trousers on.

He kicked off the show by poking fun of his BGT co-judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, before he ran the VT of the NTAs’ most memorable moments over the 25 years they have been on the air – all of which featured David, and no-one else.

‘That’s all we’ve got time for! Good night!’ David joked, before kicking things off by welcoming individuals in the audience, from Graham Norton to Ant & Dec to Paul Hollywood to Holly Willoughby.

‘Please don’t ask David Walliams next year. The show was all about him – switched off after half an hour!’ one person posted on Twitter.

Another added: ‘I used to like David Walliams, but he’s far too egotistical and over the top now. He ruined the #NTAs by making it all about him as usual!’

Another penned: ‘Not the same without Dermot. David Walliams has managed to make the show all about him and ruined it!’

‘The organisers can’t wait for it to end. The worst host in history Walliams, its all about him! What a total clown that wally!’ posted someone else.

Followed by: ‘David Walliams is not the right choice for this. He makes it all about him when it’s supposed to be about the nominees.’

As he opened the show, David was sure to take a pop at Ant & Dec’s height, claiming they were in the front row because they forgot to bring their booster seats.

Cringe: The joke was in reference to Caroline’s recent troubles, which saw her arrested and charged with assault a few days before Christmas, leading to her stepping down from her role as Love Island host, just before the winter series kicked off in January

Not popular: Fans of the NTAs also accused the Britain’s Got Talent judge of ‘making the ceremony all about him’

The Walliams Show! David has taken over as host of the National Television Awards this year, and made sure to make a typically-outrageous first impression

Descending from on high: After a skit was shown of David, 48, impersonating his Britain’s Got Talent co-judges Simon Cowell , Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, the Little Britain actor was raised onto the stage on strings as a choir sang

He quipped that he ‘wakes up every day with Holly and Phil… but has never watched their show This Morning’ before inserting a deportation joke about Irish talk show host Graham Norton and Brexit.

He joked that without the fans, TV stars’ diaries would be ‘as empty as Laurence Fox’s’ – days after the actor made comments about people under 35 being ‘bonkers’, ‘victims’ and ‘too woke’.

He then welcomed Caitlyn Jenner to the stage to present the award for Best Challenge Show. ‘At least I’m not in the jungle and don’t have to eat a cow’s eyeball!’ exclaimed Caitlyn, referring to her stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year.

She eventually awarded the gong to The Great British Bake Off, accepted by Paul Hollywood, who noted that it meant a lot being the show’s 10th year.

A laugh a minute: David was sure to take a pop at Ant & Dec’s height, claiming they were in the front row because they forgot to bring their booster seats

 Opening the show: He then welcomed Caitlyn Jenner to the stage to present the first award of the night

Next up was the award for Factual, which saw a record-breaking documentary by Jesy Nelson – Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out – scoop the prize.

A tearful Jesy accepted the gong. She took the stage and said: ‘This is so overwhelming, I’m such a baby [for crying]. I want to thank every single person in the documentary for being so brave and courageous for telling their story.

‘I want to thank my mum for being the most inspirational woman in the world. I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day.

Baking Off… to a good start! She eventually awarded the gong to The Great British Bake Off

Winning! The award was accepted by Paul Hollywood, who noted that it meant a lot being the show’s 10th year

Strictly speaking: Vernon Kay, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman laughed along with David’s gags as he fronted the series

Emotional: Next up was the award for Factual, which saw a record-breaking documentary by Jesy Nelson – Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out – scoop the prize. A tearful Jesy said – ‘I want to thank my mum for being the most inspirational woman in the world. I want to thank Chris [Hughes, pictured], my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day’

Jesy said: ‘I want to thank everyone who voted. Such a negative experience in my life turned into a positive one and that’s all thanks to you guys’ 

‘I want to thank everyone who voted. Such a negative experience in my life turned into a positive one and that’s all thanks to you guys.’

Peaky Blinders scooped the Best Drama award – and Best Dramatic Performance award for star Cillian Murphy – while Mrs Browns Boys took the gong for Comedy.

Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn took home the Serial Drama gong, delivering a stirring speech, dedicating it to her late grandfather.

The Impact Award was bestowed upon sitcom Gavin & Stacey, which returned this Christmas for a one-off special, attracting 18million viewers.

Shrugging it off! Ricky Gervais laughed off losing the Comedy Award to Mrs Brown’s Boys

Funny stuff: Brendan O’Carroll and Jennifer Gibney accepted the gong for Mrs Brown’s Boys

Serial Drama Performance: Katie McGlynn was presented her award by David Mitchell, who dressed up as Shakespeare

In loving memory: Katie dedicated her award to her late grandfather in a touching speech

The award was presented by Olly Murs, with actress and writer Ruth Jones quipping ‘What’s a-murrin’?’ – a nod to her character Nessa’s catchphrase.

She gushed about James Corden, her co-scribe of the sitcom, who ‘wished he could be there’ but was in Los Angeles, where he hosts The Late Late Show.

There were further jokes about Ant & Dec, who took the mic from David at one point, insisting that they were actually the hosts of the evening.

‘You can’t host EVERYTHING on ITV!’ David insisted, pleading: ‘Let me have tonight!’

Quirky? There was a bizarre performance from iconic group the Pet Shop Boys

Banter: David told a deportation joke about Irish talk show host Graham Norton and Brexit

Adding their Voice: The Impact Award was presented by Olly Murs and Sir Tom Jones

Ah, memories: TV stalwarts Richard and Judy were tasked with presenting the Live Magazine Show Award, which went to the show they made famous, This Morning. Not before there was a throwback clip shown of the infamous moment Judy’s breast popped out of her dress at the 2000 NTAs

Jokes: This coincided perfectly with the next award, Best TV Judge, which David ended up winning, presented by Davina McCall

Sky won its first NTA for its critically acclaimed Sky original, Chernobyl in the Best New Drama category.

The prestigious award was collected by Adi Roche, founder of Chernobyl Children International and Chris Fry, Executive Producer, Sister Pictures, who accepted it from Friends star David Schwimmer, after he enjoyed a snipe back-and-forth with Walliams over which of them was the ‘funniest David on TV’.

TV stalwarts Richard and Judy were tasked with presenting the Live Magazine Show Award, which went to the show they made famous, This Morning. 

Not before there was a throwback clip shown of the infamous moment Judy’s breast popped out of her dress at the 2000 NTAs.

Peep show! In a nod to this, David joked ‘thank God there wasn’t a wardrobe malfunction!’ before his trousers fell down around his ankles

Sitting pretty: David sat on Ant & Dec’s laps in the audience, in his pants, waiting to hear who the winner was

Passing the torch: The This Morning win, however, came with a tinge of behind-the-scenes scandal

In a nod to this, David joked ‘thank God there wasn’t a wardrobe malfunction!’ before his trousers fell down around his ankles.

This coincided perfectly with the next award, Best TV Judge, which David ended up winning.

Davina McCall presented this award, while David sat on Ant & Dec’s laps in the audience, in his pants, waiting to hear who the winner was. 

#awks? Presenters Holly and Phil accepted the gong next to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, who are said to be in the midst of a major feud with Phil

Causing a scene? The moment was peppered with sideways glances from Ruth, forced grins and an awkward moment in which Phil told her ‘your show on Fridays are great… you should say something too’ – at which Ruth gave a strained acceptance speech too

Winning! Matthew Wolfenden accepted the Serial Drama gong for Emmerdale [L]. The cast of I’m A Celeb 2019 pose for a selfie [R]

The This Morning win, however, came with a tinge of behind-the-scenes scandal, as presenters Holly and Phil accepted the gong next to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, who are said to be in the midst of a major feud with Phil.

The moment was peppered with sideways glances from Ruth, forced grins and an awkward moment in which Phil told her ‘your show on Fridays are great… you should say something too’ – at which Ruth gave a strained acceptance speech too.

Sir Michael Palin was awarded the Special Recognition Award, which he accepted with tales of the late Terry Jones who was one of Michael’s Monty Python comedy team and who sadly died last week.

Another NTA: Ant & Dec scooped the prize for Best Presenters – yet again – as well as the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I’m A Celeb – which they dedicated to those who have battled the bush fires in Australia

Double trouble: Emily Atack and Joel Dommett [L] shared a joke as Alan Carr did a skit with host David [R]

Deep impact! The Gavin & Stacey cast took to the stage to accept their gong

Pals: I’m A Celeb friends Jacqueline Jossa and Caitlyn Jenner enjoyed the show together in the audience

Sister sister: Motsi Mabuse and sister Oti took to the stage to present an award

Dramady: Sky won its first NTA for its critically acclaimed Sky original, Chernobyl in the Best New Drama category. The prestigious award was collected by Adi Roche, founder of Chernobyl Children International [L]. Ruth Jones took home the Impact Award for Gavin & Stacey [R]

David vs David: Friends star David Schwimmer enjoyed a snipe back-and-forth with Walliams over which of them was the ‘funniest David on TV’

Starry starry night: [L-R] Anna Friel presented an award while Graham Norton was nominated

More more more: Fans half expected Ruth to announce that further episodes of Gavin & Stacey were in the works

Ensemble: The Strictly Come Dancing team headed onto the stage to accept the Talent Show Award

Prestigious: Sir Trevor MacDonald handed Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman their Talent Show Award

‘Terry wanted to say things how they’d never been done before, and do things that had never been done before!’ Michael said, as he dedicated his award to his ‘dear friend of 60 years’.

Ant & Dec scooped the prize for Best Presenters – yet again – as well as the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I’m A Celeb – which they dedicated to those who have battled the bush fires in Australia.

They were joined on stage by the jungle class of 2019, with reigning Queen Of The Jungle Jacqueline Jossa dubbing the duo ‘the nicest guys in television’.

Brucie bonus! David asked Tess about her memories of late host Bruce Forsyth

Shall we dance? David soon turned things back to himself. ‘Shall I do it next year?’ he asked, grabbing Anton Du Beke for an impromptu dance

He finished the show by saying: ‘Up next is the news. And the headlines are David Walliams sacked from the NTAs!’

Corrie’s Peter Ash won Best Newcomer, while the Strictly Come Dancing team headed onto the stage to accept the Talent Show Award.

David asked hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly about their memories of late host Bruce Forsyth before, once again, turning things back to himself.

‘Shall I do it next year?’ he asked, grabbing Anton Du Beke for an impromptu dance.

He finished the show by saying: ‘Up next is the news. And the headlines are David Walliams sacked from the NTAs!’