DAVID Walliams was booed by the National Television Awards audience after making a joke about Caroline Flack’s career.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge hosted the annual ceremony at London’s O2 Arena for the first time this evening, but some of his jokes went down like lead balloons.
Towards the end of the evening, The Masked Singer’s Joel Dommett arrived on stage to present Best Serial Drama, alongside contestant, Hedgehog.
Joel said it might not be the real celebrity who is masquerading as Hedgehog on the ITV singing show inside the costume, and they could actually be at home “watching Love Island”.
After Emmerdale won the award, Joel was seen leading Hedgehog off stage and David quipped: “Thank you Joel and so nice to see Caroline Flack back on TV as well.”
As the audience realised he was hinting Caroline could have been in the Hedgehog costume, they started to boo loudly while he started his next link.
Caroline, 40, isn’t hosting the current series of ITV2’s Love Island after stepping down following her assault charge late last year involving her boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She has taken some time out of the spotlight, and Laura Whitmore has stepped in as host for this series.
David’s joke didn’t go down well on Twitter either, with Piers Morgan tweeting: “Walliams’ nasty little dig at Caroline Flack went down like a lead balloon.
“A bit like his entire hosting performance tonight. #NTAs.”
Other viewers were equally unimpressed, with one tweeting: “David Walliams should be sacked, he said it. That was bad the nasty dig at Caroline Flack crossed the line! #NTAs.”
Another added: “Well that Caroline Flack comment wasnt awkward at all…….”
A third wrote: “Well Davids joke about Caroline Flack backfired.”
