Gemma Owen brings dad Michael to NTAs instead of Luca as footballer says how proud he is

Gemma Owen brought her dad Michael as her date to the National Television Awards on Thursday night, leaving her boyfriend Luca Bish at home.

The Love Island star, 19, looked incredible in glitzy gold dress as her famous father gushed over how proud he was of her.

Speaking to MailOnline, the former footballer, 42, said: ‘Really proud of all four [children]. My kids, obviously Gemma being the oldest, you know, I had no doubts when she went on to the show and no doubts for her future, really. 

Father and daughter: Gemma Owen brought her dad Michael as her date to the National Television Awards on Thursday night, leaving her boyfriend Luca Bish at home

‘She’s got a sensible, mature head. So yeah, we’re very proud of them.’

On giving her advice on being in the public eye, he added: ‘She’s observed. She sees what it’s like being in the public eye. 

‘She’s seeing that the ups and downs and everything else like that and she’s, she’s quite smart herself mentally. So she’ll she would have picked up a lot from from just you know from the big boss of the house.’

Proud: The Love Island star, 19, looked incredible in glitzy gold dress as her famous father gushed over how proud he was of her

Gushing: Speaking to MailOnline, the former footballer, 42, said: ‘Really proud of all four [children]. My kids, obviously Gemma being the oldest, you know, I had no doubts when she went on to the show and no doubts for her future, really’

Gemma dazzled in her off-the-shoulder gown, which was encrusted in intricate beading for an added touch of sparkle.

She added a pair of gold high heels to elevate her height and a gold and diamond necklace.

Her sleek chocolate-coloured tresses were styled in neat waves and left to cascade down her back. 

‘Mature’: He added: ‘She’s got a sensible, mature head. So yeah, we’re very proud of them’

Learned from him: On giving her advice on being in the public eye, he added: ‘She’s observed. She sees what it’s like being in the public eye’

Jokester: ‘She’s seeing that the ups and downs and everything else like that and she’s, she’s quite smart herself mentally. So she’ll she would have picked up a lot from from just you know from the big boss of the house’

Gemma finished off her glamorous look with a full face of makeup to showcase her youthful good looks. 

Posing beside her, Michael cut a dapper figure in a black suit, complete with a white shirt and matching black tie. 

He took the place as Gemma’s date instead of Luca, who took to his Instagram Stories to reveal he would not be attending the NTAs.

Incredible: Gemma dazzled in her off-the-shoulder gown, which was encrusted in intricate beading for an added touch of sparkle

Stunning: Her sleek chocolate-coloured tresses were styled in neat waves and left to cascade down her back, while she finished off her glamorous look with a full face of makeup to showcase her youthful good looks

Alongside a photo of him and Gemma, the reality star, 23, wrote: ‘Gutted to be missing this one presenting an award at the NTAs but I couldn’t be prouder.’

He then shared a video of Tottenham Hotspurs football stadium captioning it: ‘Duty calls’.

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

Handsome: Posing beside her, Michael cut a dapper figure in a black suit, complete with a white shirt and matching black tie

Replacement: He took the place as Gemma’s date instead of Luca, who took to his Instagram Stories to reveal he would not be attending the NTAs

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

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

Despite the criticism the broadcasters received, the show still took home the Daytime gong, with Phillip saying the award means ‘so much to us every year, especially this year’.

MIA: Alongside a photo of him and Gemma, the reality star, 23, wrote: ‘Gutted to be missing this one presenting an award at the NTAs but I couldn’t be prouder’

Explanation: He then shared a video of Tottenham Hotspurs football stadium captioning it: ‘Duty calls’

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. 

Taking to the stage after the win, Phillip said: ‘Please don’t think we ever get complacent and please don’ t think we 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, you really do. All these guys on the stage here, Alison [Hammond] and Dermot [O’Leary], Rochelle [Humes] and Vernon [Kay], Josie [Gibson], everyone. Thank you for all your support.

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

Unfortunately, the TV duo were not there to accept their awards as they have both fallen ill with Covid and had to stay at home. 

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

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

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’s not accepting for them.

‘I’d like to say on behalf of the crew and castmates, although we had to have an evacuation, they managed to get us back on and we all got paid.’

‘A massive thank you to everyone who voted and everyone who made the show what it is. A massive thanks to the cast and crew and best of luck back in Australia.’

The show was nominated alongside The Graham Norton Show, Taskmaster and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.