Dermot O'Leary quits as host of National Television Awards after 10 years

The presenter recently joked he would step down if Ant and Dec won the best presenter award again

Dermot O'Leary has announced that he is stepping down from hosting the National Television Awards (NTAs).

"After 10 years of proudly hosting the National Television Awards, I have decided it's time to step down as host," he wrote on social media.

"It's been a tough decision because we have had a ball over the last decade, but 10 years feels about right.

"I would like to thank Indigo and my ITV family for a brilliant ten years and look forward to proudly passing on the baton in 2020... and a holiday in January."

O'Leary recently joked about quitting as host, saying that if Ant and Dec won the award for best presenters again "we should just not do it anymore".

"If they win it, having not been on television, we may as well just chuck in the towel," he said.

This year's NTAs saw Ant and Dec win their eighteenth consecutive award for best presenters, with Ant McPartlin handing most of the credit to his professional partner and friend, Declan Donnelly. Danny Dyer was also one of the event's big winners, taking home the trophy for special drama performance in Eastenders.