What did Gary Lineker drink at the NTAs?

This week’s National Television Awards saw Gary Lineker put an end to Ant and Dec’s 23-year run of winning ‘TV Presenter of the Year’. But what did the football pundit drink to celebrate? db reports.

In life there are some unavoidable truths; that what goes up must come down, that we will all eventually shuffle off this mortal coil and that Ant and Dec will be crowned TV Presenters of the Year at the National Television Awards (NTAs). So Britain’s TV audience was left reeling when the comedy duo’s names were not called out at this week’s awards, and Match of the Day star Gary Lineker was summoned to the stage instead.

In the first time a TV personality other than Ant and Dec has won the award for 23 consecutive years, Lineker’s win follows his controversial departure from the BBC after posting a political opinion regarding Palestine on social media.

During his winner’s speech, the former Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona player appeared to reference the BBC furore, saying: “It’s not lost on me why I might have won this award… I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK sometimes for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice. Thank you, it means the world.”

Toasting success

But what was in the glasses raised by the great and good of the TV industry when they toasted Lineker’s landmark win? It was likely another Gary.

That is because Gary Barlow’s wine range was an official sponsor of the NTAs, with his Malbec and Sauvignon poured liberally at the event. Barlow, who launched the collection in 2021, told the drinks business: “I like the social element of wine; it’s a celebration of being alive”, making his wines the perfect choice to mark Lineker’s accolade following 26 years of presenting Premier League coverage on Match of the Day.

Barlow’s organic wine range sold half a million bottles in its first 12 months, and last year the Take That star debuted a TV show dedicated to food and wine, which has since seen him explore the winelands of South Africa and Australia.

Not only were Barlow’s bottles behind the bar at the awards show, but The Inbetweeners star Emily Atack posted a photo on Instagram of herself sneaking a bottle of his wine away for the journey home, having changed out of her red carpet dress and into jeans.

Stars of the small screen also celebrated the industry’s success with Kyle Minogue Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé. The Spinning Around singer recently released a limited-edition bottle design adorned with flowers to celebrate selling more than 20 million bottles in five years.

Fans of her best-selling wine range are eagerly anticipating the forthcoming secret launch of a low-ABV wine for “intake conscious” consumers as the low-and-no category continues to soar. Kylie Minogue’s 0% Sparkling Rosé is already served at Soho House venues in the UK, New York and Los Angeles.

Good beer

Lineker, who has previously said he enjoys “good beer”, would also have been able to knock back Birra Moretti Sale di Mare and Heineken, as according to the NTAs official social media the two beer brands were chosen to serve to guests. Last year, Birra Moretti was named the best-selling draught lager in the UK and its Sale di Mare version contains a hint of sea salt, which according to its marketing manager, “creates a more full-bodied and intriguing flavour profile”.

Moretti is owned by Heineken, which grew its profits by 7.5% this year to reach a revenue of €16,924 million, with the company’s eponymous green bottles also served at the NTAs 2025.

Cider fans were able to sip from bottles of Inch’s Medium Apple Cider. As reported by db, the Herefordshire-made drink has one of the highest sugar contents of ciders available in the UK with 18.5g of sugar per 440ml bottle. Inch’s is also owned by Heineken, making the company the dominant drinks sponsor of the NTAs.

Award winner Gary Lineker is no stranger to a drink, having been filmed downing booze straight from the bottle during his son Harry’s wedding in June, which took place in Ibiza. The nuptials also marked a reunion between Gary and his brother Wayne Lineker, who owns the poplar O Beach day club in Ibiza. The pair are rumoured to have had a 17-year-long feud due to Wayne clashing with Gary’s ex-wife Danielle Bux.

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