Ant and Dec snubbed as they miss out on RTS Awards nomination for first time in NINE years

ANT and Dec have been snubbed by one of telly's top awards after failing to receive a nomination for the first time in NINE years.

The Geordie pair, both 43, have not made the shortlist for the Royal Television Society's glittering ceremony after winning there five times since 2010.

Their absence leaves the field wide open in the Best Entertainment Performance category, where Big Narstie and Mo Gilligan, The Voice coach Jennifer Hudson and Michael McIntyre will now fight it out.

While the pair picked up the National Television Award for Best Presenter for the 18th time in a row in January, it was not without controversy.

Ant McPartlin had barely appeared on TV at all after taking a ten-month hiatus from TV work following a drink driving conviction and a stint in rehab.

Piers Morgan wasted little time blasting the pair for even being nominated, saying that Ant has been "walking the dog for a year" - comments for which he later apologised.

However, Ant and Dec aren't the only big names to fail to make the cut at the RTS Awards this year - with The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing failing to get nominated either.

Last year's smash hit Bodyguard also hasn't been shortlisted for Best Drama, with Peaky Blinders, Killing Eve and Save Me left to battle for the prize.

The police thriller's stars Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden have been snubbed in the acting categories.

RTS chief executive Theresa Wise had earlier said: "The awards list is quite simply the most diverse ever.”

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