Alan Carr breaks down in tears after receiving Special Recognition gong as fans laud NTAs performance by pals Amanda Holden and Paloma Faith as 'the campest thing they've ever seen'

Alan Carr broke down in tears as he was awarded the Special Recognition gong at the National Television Awards on Tuesday.

The comedian was given the prestigious honour for his 20-year career in TV, with even the star himself joking he knew there was a surprise coming after getting to sit in the front row during the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Alan was honoured with a special performance by pals Amanda Holden and his Celebrity Traitors co-star Paloma Faith, who was brought on to the stage in a coffin.

The performance went down a storm with viewers, who took to X to laud it as 'one of the campest things they'd ever seen'.

During his speech, Alan 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.'

Prior to winning his award, Alan learned he was set to receive the honour thanks to a performance by his close friend Amanda, and his Traitors co-star Paloma, whose coffin entrance was an ode to her savage murder on the BBC show.

Sharing their hysterical reaction to the song, fans posted on X: 'Alan Carr's Special Recognition Award surprise reveal is the CAMPEST THING I have ever seen. Paloma Faith rising from the coffin? Exceptional;

'When Paloma rose from the coffin; This is so iconic OMG;

'Paloma Faith singing in a coffin to honour Alan Carr is the greatest NTAs moment ever.'

The NTAs saw the best in British TV descend on London's O2 Arena for a star-studded ceremony as comedian Joel Dommett returned as host for the sixth time. 

In his 100th year, David Attenborough took home the NTA for Best Presenter, leaving Ant and Dec without the gong for the second consecutive year.

The iconic Geordie duo held onto the accolade for a record 23 years before losing out to Gary Lineker at last year's awards. 

And this year they were trumped by the legendary broadcaster, whose producer Mark Brownlow accepted the award on his behalf with his speech focused on the dangers of climate change. 

Meanwhile This Morning’s winning streak continued as Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard took home the award for Best Daytime show alongside Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

Ahead of its revamp this year, Strictly Come Dancing also took home the gong for Best Talent Show, while the Celebrity Traitors won the Reality Competition category.

As Alan Carr accepted his second award of the night, after receiving this year’s Special Recognition earlier in the programme, he joked: 'I bet you're sick of me.' 

The BBC hit, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, dominated the nominees, with its regular civilian series also nominated. 

Fellow contestant Charlotte Church jumped on the microphone to praise Alan and Faithfuls Nick Mohammed and David Olusoga for a moment of 'male tenderness and emotion.  

Elsewhere collecting the Reality Docuseries gong was Jeremy Clarkson's Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm. 

The presenter made the shock revelation he was in remission from prostate cancer earlier this year. 

Keeping his speech short and sweet he later broke his silence on the illness during the winner's press conference. 

The 66-year-old said: ‘I wasn't emotional; it was annoying. I had a heart thing, and I had a bit of cancer but I wasn't away really, it was two weeks.

‘It was, it was just annoying because I missed a lot of the harvest time.’

Lee Mack once again took home the gong for his ITV hit The 1% Club as he attended the ceremony with his three children and paid tribute to his wife in his speech. 

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award was awarded to Michael McIntyre's Big Show - after it was presented by Paris Fury and her daughter Valencia, eight. 

The cast of Mrs Brown’s Boys were ecstatic on hearing they had won Best Comedy Show, in what will be a boost to Brendan O’Carroll after he was forced to cancel this year’s festive specials after breaking his jaw.

Gogglebox, now in its 28th series, was awarded the Factual Entertainment gong, beating Stacey Solomon's Sort Your Life Out. 

This year's NTAs has proven to be historic even before the first winners were announced, as it features the first ever all-female shortlist for Drama Performance.

And it was Vicky McClure who came out on top, thanks to her role as volatile explosives officer Lana in Trigger Point.

I Fought the Law, led by Sheridan Smith, won this year’s New Drama gong after an impressive performance. 

This year’s Authored Documentary gong was awarded to the BBC’s special Our Girls: The Southport Families.

Completing the wins for the night was Call The Midwife, who picked up best Returning Drama, Emmerdale who won Best Serial Drama and Jeff Hordley who won in the Serial Drama Performance category.