Emmerdale old-timer Eric Pollard got a special shout-out at last night’s NTAs – thanks to a technical glitch that left viewers in hysterics.
The gaffe came as the nominations were announced for Best Newcomer.
The nominees were Corrie’s Rob Mallard, who plays Daniel Osbourne; EastEnders’ Danny Walters, aka Keanu Taylor; Hollyoaks’ Nathan Morris – Milo Entwhistle; and Emmerdale’s Ned Porteous, aka Joseph Tate.
As I’m A Celeb stars Toff and Stanley Johnson read out the names, the camera, as always, panned to the actor mentioned, as they were sitting in the audience.
But that’s where it went wrong.
Rob Mallard and Ned Porteous went without a hitch.
But as they read out Nathan Morris, the camera zoomed in on Chris Chittell!
Chris Chittell, who plays Eric, has been in the show for 30 years and is Emmerdale’s longest serving cast member, so we’re not sure he really counts as a newcomer!
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And then, as the final name – Danny Walters – was read out, the camera found Nathan. What a mix-up!
The viewers thought the mistake was hilarious.
“Eric Pollard in #hollyoaks though,” wrote one viewer, complete with laughing emojis.
“Loved that it cut to Eric Pollard as Newcomer,” laughed another.
And another joked that they were “gutted” he didn’t win because “he had it in the bag”.
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Danny Walters won the award in the end, for his portrayal of Keanu Taylor in Enders.
And Chris got a prize too, as Emmerdale scooped the Best Serial Drama award!