This Morning staff ‘are left furious as they fail to receive invites to the National Television Awards in favour of on-screen stars Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond’

The National Television Awards are just around the corner, however This Morning staff have reportedly failed to receive an invite for the annual event. 

The ITV morning show will only be taking on-screen talent and senior executives to enjoy the evening, while the back room workers will remain at home. 

Those who work behind the scenes will watch from their TVs as Holly Willoughby, 42, Alison Hammond, 48, and Dermot O’Leary, 50, attend London’s O2 Arena..

A TV source revealed to The Sun that the show is reportedly ‘slimming down’ the number of attendees due to the cost of living crisis, but they seem to be ‘splashing the cash elsewhere.’ 

They said: ‘People are upset at the slimming down as the show is such a group effort and the awards are usually a big night out for the whole team.’

Unfair: A TV source revealed that the show is reportedly ‘slimming down’ the number of attendees due to the cost of living crisis, but they seem to be ‘splashing the cash elsewhere’

It hasn’t been a good year for the show after the Philip Schofield scandal earlier in May left the programme in turmoil. 

Sources believe the bosses have cut back as they fear the scandal will negatively effect their chance of winning the Best Daytime Show for the 13th year in a row. 

The morning TV show is up against ITV sister show Loose Women, quiz favourite The Chase and BBC’s The Repair Shop for the prestigious award. 

After presenting the show for 21 years, Philip resigned from This Morning back in May before admitting he had had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on the show, and later lying about it. 

In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship. The ex-TV presenter describes this as ‘unwise but not illegal’.

Schofield further confessed that he lied to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU.

The scandal created a state of disarray for the show, with it triggering ongoing allegations of a toxic culture behind the scenes of the show.  

The TV source continued: ‘It doesn’t help with shutting down rumours of a toxic atmosphere.

Drama: It hasn’t been a good year for the show after the Philip Schofield scandal earlier in May left the programme in turmoil (pictured in January on Dancing On Ice) 

Not-so happy family: Toxic allegations have surrounded the show in the latter months suggesting the show won’t bag Best Daytime Show at this year’s NTAs (This Morning cast pictured at the awards in 2020) 

‘Some people suspect that bosses know it isn’t going to be a stellar year for This Morning after all the scandal and they know they may not win.’ 

An ITV source said: ‘There are less staff attending this year due to budget cuts.’

MailOnline contacted representatives at This Morning who have declined to comment.  

The claims come after it was revealed that Holly is finally the undisputed queen of ITV after the show revealed their new trailer. 

After the summer off, the new clip shows Holly smiling for the cameras as she prepares to take to the famous This Morning sofa.

The choice of showing the presenter on her own is a clear message that she is ‘Queen Bee’, ITV insiders say.

One told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Holly is the future and ITV wanted to make that clear. It’s a sure sign that she is at the helm and the other presenters will join her.

It’s a brand new start for This Morning, the scandal could have destroyed it but it has managed to keep going. There is a lot of excitement.’

Holly appears twice in the trailer, which also advertises Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and Loose Women.

Her solo appearance in the trailer comes in stark contrast to promotional material of previous years, which showed her standing alongside Schofield as the joint stars of This Morning.