Joe Lycett took a swipe at Holly Willoughby ‘feud’ with This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield during his acceptance speech at Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards.
The funny man, 34, joked that his ‘PR team’ had informed he had shingles after not attending the event – the same illness that struck down Holly and saw her take a week off from the ITV show last month amid reports of tensions on set.
Joe’s producer James Kirkwood accepted the award after the comedian was honoured in the Features category for his show Lycett Vs Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas.
Reading from his phone he said: ‘Joe said, “I’m sorry to not be there, but according to my PR [public relations] team I have shingles.”
Following laughter from the audience, the speech then graciously thanked the show’s creative team.
Cheeky: Joe Lycett, 34, took a swipe at Holly Willoughby ‘feud’ with This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield during his acceptance speech at Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards
Feud: The funny man joked that his ‘PR team’ had informed he had shingles after not attending the event – the same illness that struck down Holly and saw her take a week off from the ITV show last month (Holly and Phil pictured together)
The Channel 4 special of his consumer affairs show saw him destroy £10,000 of his own cash unless David Beckham ended his association with Qatar, where homosexuality is still illegal.
According to the NHS: Shingles is a painful condition caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone can get it, but it’s most common in older people.
Earlier in the show hosts Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan took digs the furore over Holly and Phillip’s visit to the late Queen’s lying in state as they opened the award show.
The pair kicked off the ceremony in London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, with shows including The Crown, This Is Going To Hurt and Bad Sisters battling it out.
It comes after it was confirmed earlier in the day that Holly and Phil will both appear on This Morning on Monday, despite reports their friendship has completely broken down amid a tense 48 hours of talks.
Beckett said: ‘As we all know this year, there have been one or two issues with the subject of the BBC and balance. It’s not easy for comedians to host an award show on the BBC. We need to be funny. We need to be professional and also offer balanced views. This booking is perfect for balance.
‘I see a room filled with some of the hardest working and most talented people in TV all driven by a passion and a love for their craft.’
Ranganathan added: ‘Whereas I see a roomful of shark-eyed narcissists.’
The pair then chimed in unison: ‘Balance.’
Speech: Joe’s producer James Kirkwood accepted the award after the comedian was honoured in the Features category for his show Lycett Vs Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas
Winner: The Channel 4 special of his consumer affairs show saw him destroy £10,000 of his own cash unless David Beckham ended his association with Qatar, where homosexuality is still illegal
Ill health: In April Holly shared a snap from her sick bed
Gesturing to Imelda Staunton, who is in the running for the Best Actress prize for her role as the late Queen in The Crown, Beckett said: ‘She’s nominated for her performance in The Crown.
‘Apparently, Holly and Phil got to watch that a couple of days before everybody else. A little bit of edge for you, early doors.’
The This Morning hosts were criticised on social media after they saw the late Queen lying in state without taking part in the public queue.
They later insisted they would ‘never jump a queue’ and their visit was for the purposes of reporting on the event.
Later Rob joked: ‘A few months back we were left hoping that The Traitors would be making a swift return to BBC One. Well that’s what some of the papers called the Match Of The Day presenters anyway. Are we edgy? I think we might be edgy.’
Lineker was briefly suspended as host of Match Of The Day in March over his criticism of the Government’s asylum policy on Twitter but returned to air following a boycott by top on-air talent at the broadcaster.
Uproar: Earlier in the show hosts Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan took digs the furore over Holly and Phillip ‘s visit to the late Queen’s lying in state as they opened the award show (pictured)
Brutal! The comedian’s kicked off the ceremony in London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, with shows including The Crown, This Is Going To Hurt and Bad Sisters battling it out
Cheeky: They also poked fun at Gary Lineker (pictured) after he was briefly suspended as host of Match Of The Day in March over his criticism of the Government’s asylum policy
Pundits and presenters dropping out of a host of football shows in solidarity with Lineker prompted two days of disruption to TV and radio schedules.
It was revealed that Holly and Phillip would both appear on Monday’s This Morning following two days of crisis talks, despite reports their friendship has completely broken down.
ITV have confirmed that despite the pair being at war with one another, they will attempt to put their differences aside for the show.
It has left staff at This Morning stunned, and fearing that it could end in disaster after tensions between the pair are said to have risen dramatically in recent weeks.
It was earlier revealed that Holly had reportedly begun contract negotiations with ITV bosses as she pushes for new terms following the breakdown of her friendship with Phillip whose future on the programme now hangs in the balance.