Alan was surprised with a special award at the annual awards ceremony in London.
(Image: WireImage)
Amanda Holden has revealed the truth about how she helped bring Alan Carr’s emotionally crazy surprise to life at the National Television Awards (NTA). Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda was among the stars in attendance at the 31st NTA on Tuesday night (September 8).
The annual ceremony, held at London’s O2, honors the biggest stars and programs of the past 12 months. During the ceremony, comedian and TV presenter Alan was surprised with a special award for the turbulent year.
The Celebrity Traitor winner was serenaded by Amanda, Paloma Faith, Kate Garraway, Charlotte Church and David Olusoga.
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Barbara Dixon and Elaine Paige’s 1984 performance of “I Know Him So Well” began with Paloma being carried on stage in a black coffin, a reference to her dramatic murder by Alan on Celebrity Betrayers.
In a video tribute, his Traitors co-star Sir Stephen Fry said: “Despite the viciousness, despite the cruelty of this man, it is very difficult not to love him.” Presenter Claudia Winkleman added: “It’s delicious, isn’t it? I wish it came with a cracker.”
Realizing he had won the award, Alan struggled to hold back tears as he was shown highlights of his career, including his time working on Channel 4 talk show Chatty Man, amid calls from fans to bring him back.
Collecting his award, Alan said: “That’s how fat I am, it wasn’t until Paloma came out that I realized it was me. I should have realized when they put me in the front row, I’m usually in the back with the Naked Desire people.”
On Wednesday morning (September 9), Amanda returned to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden. Speaking to her co-host Jamie, Amanda opened up about all the NTA gossip.
Jamie said: “The National Television Awards were held at London’s O2 Arena last night and everyone was in tears. One of the standout moments was Alan Carr receiving a special recognition award and he was surprised when our very own Amanda Holden performed a version of ‘I Know Him So Well’ with Paloma Faith. Can I say before we say anything else, first of all, how fantastic it was?”
To which Amanda replied: “Oh Jamie, it’s really nice for you to say that… I think I surprised a lot of people. It’s really weird, isn’t it? When you do musicals and they kind of get forgotten, don’t they? It’s normal though, I don’t mind.”
She added: “I don’t know because I didn’t tell any of you. I didn’t even tell my mom. I just told my mom when to turn on the TV. She thought I was getting an award. I said no. And I just said, ‘Just watch.’
“And I didn’t tell Alan. I purposely didn’t talk to Alan for a week, right? And I worked yesterday after that, so before I went to the NTAs, I walked the red carpet at like six, which I usually never do. So, I just sat in my dressing room.”
When Jamie noted that if it “ever got out” then “all the attention” would be on Amanda because of their friendship, she admitted it and Alan “had the biggest piles in showbiz and couldn’t keep any secrets.”
“And he just kept looking at me and saying, ‘I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it.’ What was really sad was that he was so busy that it was like Christmas for him this year. And to see his face, he was in tears, shaking.
“He got up on stage, his glasses were all fogged up. My instinct is always to take them off and clean them, which I always do, whenever I’m with him, wherever we are. But I was in a black lace dress, I had no place to do it.
“So I had to just walk away from him. And the funny thing about it was that Paloma, who was great, was singing, you know, we were singing together, and she had the brilliant idea of her appearing on stage in a coffin. He was brought on stage by the coffins, who were some of the cast of Traitors, and then we sang ‘I Know Him So Well,'” she said.
Amanda continued, “And I really enjoyed it all. And NTA, it was a really fun night. I haven’t been there in years, so it was nice to talk to people.”