National Television Awards 2022: Money saving expert Martin Lewis takes a swipe at the goverment

Martin Lewis delivered a passionate speech when he won the coveted TV Expert gong at the National Television Awards on Thursday.

The 50-year-old presenter of the Martin Lewis Money Show wasted no time lashing out at Liz Truss’ reign and the difficult winter ahead for the families as he took the stage at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

Filled with emotion, the financial whiz spoke of the “terrible” and “disastrous” year the country had endured with the energy crisis and said many have been left with “terrible and mental health problems.”

He seemed to mock Truss’s much-criticized policies, adding: We need someone who can get a grip on the economy and turn things around a bit.”

Revealing that he believed 2023 could be just as bleak, he stated: ‘Who said we have enough experts, no, we don’t need them now more than ever’.

On the podium, Martin said: “When you go up against an international treasure like David Attenborough, you don’t normally expect to win, I’m quite shocked. Who said we have enough experts, no we don’t need them more than ever’.

An emotional Martin continued: ‘Thank you so much to Claire and Angelica and everyone at the Martin Lewis Money Show and also to the web team who gave me the information and did the analysis for Money Saving Expert.

Straightforward: The host of the Martin Lewis Money Show wasted no time lashing out at Liz Truss’ government and the difficult winter ahead for the families as he took the stage at London’s OVO Arena Wembley

Scary: Filled with emotion, the financial whiz kid spoke of the ‘terrible year’ the country had endured with the energy crisis, saying many have been left with ‘terrible and mental health problems’

“It’s been a pretty horrendous year financially and the energy crisis has been disastrous, leaving many people in terrible trouble and mental health problems.

‘I’m afraid that next year, with the mortgage problem and the damper on the rent, it’s going to get pretty bad.

‘And you know what? We need someone who can get a grip on the economy and turn things upside down a bit.

“But that’s for my show next Tuesday, tonight this nerd is going to party! Thank you and good night.’

Later on social media, the star shared a grinning photo as he took the shiny prize together with wife Lara Lewington, 43.

Speech: On the podium he said: ‘When you go up against an international treasure like David Attenborough you don’t normally expect to win, I’m quite shocked’

Thanks: He held up his shiny prize as a thank you before leaving the stage

He wrote: ‘#NTA’s Still stunned, thank you to everyone who voted. It is a tremendous privilege to have your support. I don’t really drink, maybe one a year, but maybe it’ll come tonight.”

This year’s NTAs were broadcast live from a brand new location of Wembley’s OVO Arena with Joel Dommett hosting.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were booed by some audience members at the National Television Awards when This Morning was announced as a contender for the Best Daytime Award.

Shock: Martin was in shock when his name was announced and he headed for the podium

Backstage: He later posed with the award after his emotional speech

The presenters found themselves at the center of the ‘queue’ controversy’ in September when they were accused of skipping the line to see the Queen in state, which they both denied.

Despite the criticism the broadcasters received, the show still won the Daytime gong, with Phillip saying the award “means so much to us every year, especially this year.”

Other notable winners at the ceremony – held at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London – included Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for Best Presenter, Anton Du Beke for TV Judge, Peaky Blinders for Returning Drama and Emmerdale for Serial Drama.

Trophy: Later on social media, the star shared a grinning photo as he took the shiny prize together with wife Lara Lewington, 43

Phillip took the podium after the win and said: ‘Please don’t think we’ll ever get boarding and please don’t think we’ll ever take it for granted. This means so much to us every year, especially this year. We have the best boss.’

Holly added: ‘This morning has a very special relationship with you, you make our show for us, really. All these guys on stage here, Alison [Hammond] and Dermot [O’Leary]Rochelle [Humes] and Vernon [Kay]Josie [Gibson], everybody. Thank you for all your help.’

Elsewhere, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnnelly took home their 21st consecutive Best Presenter Award and the Bruce Forsyth Award.

Awkward: Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were booed by some audience members at the National Television Awards when This Morning was announced as a contender for the Best Daytime Award

Unfortunately, the TV duo was not there to collect their awards as they both fell ill with Covid and had to stay home.

The Bruce Forsyth Award went to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! with Emmerdale star Danny Miller winning the series last year and taking the gong along with several other 21st season stars.

Danny said: ‘On behalf of Ant and Dec who have Covid so they can’t be here tonight Stephen Mulhern is in the crowd so I’m not sure why he won’t accept them.