HOLLY Willoughby has made her This Morning return after the show was subject to a series of boos – and an epic loss – at The National Television Awards.
The ITV anchor was presenting the programme with Craig Doyle, 52, – who replaced Alison Hammond, 48, for Wednesday's episode.
Holly, 42, looked stunning in a short-sleeve blue patterned dress from Reformation.
She paired the gown with tan sandals and swept her blonde locks into a trendy up-do.
Holly – who exclusively opened up to The Sun about her "difficult year" just hours before – addressed This Morning's award loss at the swanky event at London's O2 Arena.
This Morning was trounced in the NTAs' Daytime TV category for the first time in 12 years after facing stiff competition from Loose Women, The Chase, and The Repair Shop.
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The BBC workshop programme – The Repair Shop – took home the coveted gong, with presenter Jay Blades fronting the winner's speech on Tuesday night.
Fans also spotted an awkward moment Holly jumped in front of Alison to congratulate Jay and on Wednesday's show, the mum-of-three gave the lowdown.
Opening up on This Morning's monumental show loss, the anchor said: "Can we say a huge congratulations to Jay Blades and The Repair Shop – well done you!
"Jay Blades got a special squeeze and lots of love to him – he ran over to us, gave us all a big cuddle, which I just thought was class and gorgeous.
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"I actually didn't want to let go – gives good hugs Jay Blades."
Later on, talking of This Morning's place on the short list, she added: "It's a massive thing to make the shortlist and just to make it to there was so wonderful.
"Thank you for all the love and support."
The event was also a tricky one for Holly after the show was subject to a series of boos from fans filling the south east London venue.
An audience member inside The O2 provided The Sun with footage of the booing, but only cheers could be heard in the ITV broadcast.
Drama has engulfed the programme in recent months, with ITV bosses facing questions in Parliament over alleged “toxic” conditions backstage after the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Earlier this year, Phillip, 61 – Holly's longtime best pal and co-star – was axed from the show and ITV more widely after admitting to an affair with a much younger male colleague.
At the ceremony Holly exclusively opened up on the tough time.
She said: "If I'm honest it's been really up and down.
"But what's lovely is people rallying around you. The support is there. People want us to do well. It all feels good again.
"I just want to the future to continue as it is. We are very blessed we have a great team of people we really do.
"Everybody has been so lovely tonight and everyone is so happy to meet you. I mean you're in their living room everyday it's not like meeting someone from Coronation Street.
"I know there's been a lot of talk about things and for me personally, I don't want to speak on behalf of other people, it's a world I don't recognise.
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"For me, I look around and see the team getting ready and giving it all. I just want to come to work and have more of that."
Holly was attending her first NTAs without Phil.
NTAs WINNER
FIND out if your favourite telly star has scooped a gong.
IS YOUR favourite telly star an NTA winner? See below.
Serial Drama
- Coronation Street
- EastEnders – Winner
- Emmerdale
- Hollyoaks
Talent Show
- Britain’s Got Talent
- Strictly Come Dancing – Winner
- The Great British Bake Off
- The Great British Sewing Bee
New Drama
- Beyond Paradise
- Blue Lights
- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
- Wednesday – Winner
Daytime
- Loose Women
- The Chase
- The Repair Shop – Winner
- This Morning
Comedy
- Brassic
- Ghosts
- Ted Lasso
- Young Sheldon – Winner
Authored Documentary
- Deborah James: Bowelbabe in Her Own Words
- Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now – Winner
- Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction
- Rob Burrow: Living with MND
Rising Star
- Benjamin Chivers (Isaac, The Devil’s Hour)
- Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater, EastEnders) – Winner
- Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey, Coronation Street)
- Lewis Cope (Nicky Milligan, Emmerdale)
Factual
- Clarkson's Farm
- Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs – Winner
- Sort Your Life Out
- The Martin Lewis Money Show Live
TV Presenter
- Alison Hammond
- Ant & Dec – Winner
- Bradley Walsh
- Claudia Winkleman
- Martin Lewis
Quiz Game Show
- Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
- Richard Osman’s House of Games
- The 1% Club – Winner
- The Chase Celebrity Special
Drama Performance
- Brenda Blethyn (DCI Vera Stanhope, Vera)
- India Amarteifio (Young Queen Charlotte, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story)
- James Norton (Tommy Lee Royce, Happy Valley)
- Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan, Call the Midwife)
- Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood, Happy Valley) – Winner
Serial Drama Performance
- Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley, Coronation Street)
- Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders) – Winner
- Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
- Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
TV Interview
- Louis Theroux Interviews…
- Piers Morgan Uncensored
- The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show
- The Graham Norton Show – Winner
Reality Competition
- Love Island
- Race Across the World
- SAS: Who Dares Wins
- The Traitors – Winner
Returning Drama
- Call the Midwife
- Happy Valley – Winner
- Stranger Things
- Vera
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
- Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
- Gogglebox – Winner
- I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
- The Masked Singer
Special Recognition
Sarah Lancashire
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