New NTAs host David Walliams has come under fire from viewers after a shocking dig at the expense of Caroline Flack during Tuesday night's ceremony.
During the two and a half hour live broadcast, David made a number of near to the mark jokes, including ones at Caitlyn Jenner and Laurence Fox but it was the unexpected jibe at Caroline, right near the end of the show that has sparked the most controversy on social media.
The moment, which generated gasps and boos from the audience at the O2 Arena, came as The Masked Singer's Hedgehog and host Joel Dommett handed out the award for Serial Drama to Emmerdale.
And after the cast of the ITV soap had given their acceptance speech, David said "Nice to see Caroline Flack back on TV," with many viewers at home shocked by the fact he seemed to be likening her to the 'spiky' hedgehog as he gestured in that direction as the hedgehog walked off the stage.
Caroline was charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton by beating, following an incident at her London home just before Christmas. She pleaded not guilty to the charges but stepped down from her role as Love Island host.
One viewer reacted to the dig, which you can watch in the video taken from ITV , "I know #CarolineFlack did wrong, but should she be made a spectacle of forever, no she shouldn’t. I thought @davidwalliams had more class. I think he just fell from grace."
In agreement, another reacted "What happened to the NTAs tonight?It was awful to watch.David Walliams should never be allowed anywhere near that programme again.The reaction to the Caroline Flack dig said it all," and a third tweeted " I normally like you but that Caroline flack comment was totally unnecessary and for the fact shes probably watching and we live in a world of enough hate don’t really need more of that do we. Whatever happened, has happened. She doesn’t need more dragging."
David seemed to suggest he might have ruffled a few feathers. In his closing speech he said "Next up the News at 10 - apparently the headline is Walliams fired from the NTAs!"
