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Alan Carr was the man of last night’s National Television Awards, bagging a surprise gong and being serenaded by a cluster of his Celebrity Traitors compatriots.
The comedian, 50, was beside himself during the hugely eccentric number, which was kicked off by his longtime bestie Amanda Holden singing a storming rendition of I Know Him So Well from the musical Chess.
Holden was then joined by Paloma Faith, who dramatically rose from a coffin carried onto the stage, in a clear nod to her untimely death in the Scottish castle earlier this year.
It wasn’t just Faith who returned to honour Carr with the Special Recognition Award: Kate Garraway, Charlotte Church and David Olusoga appeared from the wings to join in the singalong.
It comes after the Chatty Man comedian stormed to victory in Ardross Castle earlier this year, duping the entire crop of Faithful celebs in his midst. From his seat in the audience, Carr was holding back tears during the performance.
The serenade has been hailed ‘the campest thing ever’ by TV news aggregator Super TV on X, adding: ‘Paloma Faith rising from the coffin? Exceptional.’
In the comments underneath, fellow fan Marjory wrote on X: ‘Unbelievable! I loved this,’ while Sam Stainier tweeted: ‘Well done Alan Carr. This was hilarious!’
‘This is the greatest thing the NTAs have done in years,’ declared David Chippa in response to the clip, which was viewed hundreds of thousands of times on the platform.
It wasn’t just the Celeb Traitors on stage that returned to celebrate Carr. In a video tribute, Sir Stephen Fry praised him, saying: ‘Despite the wickedness, despite the cruelty of the man, it’s very hard not to love him.’
Host Claudia Winkleman added, ‘He’s delicious, isn’t he? I’d like him on a cracker.’ All of which whetted viewer appetites for the second season of the show, which returns later this month.
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When Carr finally got on stage to collect the surprise award, he said: ‘This is how thick I am; it was only when Paloma came out that I realised it’s me.
‘I should have realised when they put me in the front row, I’m usually in the back with the people from Naked Attraction.’
Meanwhile, Faith said of taking part in the performance: ‘It was all in homage to my beautiful friend, who deserved it more than anybody else.’
Addressing him, Holden added: ‘You’ve had the most incredible year. It’s been like Christmas … and you’ve totally deserved it.’
The National Television Awards 2026 aired on ITV1.