LOOSE Women star Nadia Sawalha pulled out of the National Television Awards last night due to “illness” – becoming the third ITV star appearing to boycott the annual telly bash – with sources claiming ITV stars are snubbing Phillip Schofield amid his grooming row.
The ‘Loose Women’ panellist told fans she won’t be attending the star-studded ceremony at London’s OVO Arena Wembley tonight that aired on ITV.
The former EastEnders actress cancelled her appearance due to a so-called case of un-diagnosed ‘COVID-19’, just 24 hours after national treasures Ant & Dec pulled out of all ITV shows due to a “mystery illness”.
‘SCHOFE SHADE’
The Loose Women Schofield shade was exposed at the NTA’s in 2020, after Ruth Langsford “threw shade” at former This Morning host Phillip over his alleged affair with Mathew Mcgreevy, who quit the long-running daytime show to work on Loose Women after Phillip came out as gay to suppress grooming allegations.
The rift began to unravel after Phillip and Ruth attended the National Television Awards in January 2020 – in which Ruth was accused of ‘faking’ a smile and looking uncomfortable on stage when This Morning won Best Daytime Show.
SAWALHA SWERVE
In a YouTube video posted, the 57-year-old broadcaster – who is nominated in the Daytime TV category as part of the ITV show – said: “There it all is. Guess who won’t be going to the National Television Awards?”
While she showed off her invitation to the biggest night in television, Nadia detailed how she had been bed-bound because of the “lurgy”.
The ex ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ star lamented about not being able to don her “lovely dress” and join her co-stars, including Jane Moore and Kaye Adams.
Nadia added: “My friend Simone was coming over to do my makeup, I’m supposed to be going with my friend Jordan in the car.
“Jane and Kaye are going. All the girls are going. Party afterwards. Nope.”
The ex-‘EastEnders’ star admitted the sickness had “floored” her and she believes the current lateral flow tests don’t “pick up” the new variant.
Nadia said: “I am convinced that the tests that we have now don’t pick up the new strains of COVID.
“That’s what I think because it’s very similar in the way COVID was – you start to feel better and then you just get hammered again and just have to go to bed,” before adding that the day before she had laid in bed “staring at the ceiling for three hours,” something Nadia “never” does.
ANT & DEC PULL OUT OF ITV SHOWS DUE TO “ILLNESS”
ANT AND DEC have pulled out of a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ special after falling ill.
The Geordie duo have postponed “all work commitments” until they recover from a mystery illness, which has left them unable to shoot ‘Britain’s Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician’.
It’s not known whether or not Ant and Dec will be able to attend this year’s National Television Awards, which takes place this Thursday.
They are up for several prizes at the NTAs, including yet another nod in the TV Presenter category, which they have won every year since 2001
