Duo’s red faces

May 11 2008 by Ken Oxley, Sunday Sun

I LIKE Ant and Dec (who doesn’t?) and I’m prepared to give the Geordie duo the benefit of the doubt over the latest scandal involving phone-in scams and rigged competitions.

But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be hugely embarrassed by this fiasco . . . because they should.

Watchdog Ofcom came down hard on ITV, fining the broadcaster £5.7m after it was revealed winners of phone-ins, including Saturday Night Takeaway and Gameshow Marathon, were specially selected rather than chosen at random.

But what is even more galling for the two presenters is having to return their 2005 British Comedy Award, which should have gone to comedian Catherine Tate.

The blame for that cock-up lies squarely on the shoulders of bosses who kowtowed to egomaniac Robbie Williams.

Williams apparently would only agree to present an award if it went to Ant and Dec. Incredibly, instead of telling the singer to take a hike, they decided to rig the vote.

Clearly they were so star-struck at the thought of attracting a big name to the event that they lost sight of any competition’s most important attribute . . . integrity.

Meanwhile, prima donna Williams should have known better that to make ludicrous demands that could influence the outcome.