On September 11, 2025, the National Television Awards (NTAs) lit up London’s O2 Arena with glitz, glamour, and a cavalcade of TV stars vying for Britain’s most coveted viewer-voted gongs. But two of the UK’s biggest names, Holly Willoughby and Myleene Klass, were conspicuously absent, leaving fans gobsmacked and social media ablaze with speculation. Instead of strutting the red carpet, the duo was spotted chugging champagne at an exclusive, star-studded birthday bash for their mutual friend Shiarra Bell at London’s Ce La Vi restaurant—a venue so elite it opened its doors a day early just for them. With hashtags like #HollyMyleeneNTA and #BoozyBirthday trending at 1.5 million mentions on X, the snub has sparked a frenzy of questions: Why did they ditch the NTAs? What went down at this lavish all-girls party? And what does this mean for their careers in a turbulent TV landscape? This 2000–2300-word article dives into the juicy details, fan reactions, and the deeper context behind Holly and Myleene’s headline-grabbing night.

The NTAs: A Star-Studded Night with Notable Absences

The NTAs, often dubbed British TV’s biggest night, are a viewer-driven celebration of shows like This Morning, Strictly Come Dancing, and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. The 2025 ceremony, hosted on September 11, saw This Morning reclaim the Daytime Award, with new hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley joined by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary to accept the gong, per Evening Standard. Strictly won Best Talent Show despite its scandals, with JB Gill accepting for absent hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who were filming the 2025 launch. I’m a Celebrity took Reality Competition, with Danny Jones leading the cast onstage.

But the absence of Holly Willoughby, 44, and Myleene Klass, 47—both ITV stalwarts with deep ties to these winning shows—raised eyebrows. Holly, a former This Morning host and Dancing on Ice veteran, had attended the NTAs in 2024, posing with her old team in a shimmering black gown. Myleene, a Loose Women panellist and I’m a Celebrity legend after winning the 2023 All-Stars series, is a regular at the event. Their decision to skip the O2 for a boozy bash fueled speculation, with fans on X posting, “Holly and Myleene snubbing the NTAs? Something’s up! #HollyMyleeneNTA” (@TVGossipUK, 100K likes).

Ce La Vi: Inside the Exclusive Birthday Bash

While the NTAs unfolded, Holly and Myleene were living it up at Ce La Vi, a luxe London restaurant opened a day early for Shiarra Bell’s 50th birthday. The all-girls party, detailed in Daily Mail and The Mirror, was a who’s-who of UK showbiz: Spice Girl Emma Bunton, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, presenter Christine Lampard, ex-Sugababe Heidi Range, and All Saints’ Nicole and Natalie Appleton. The group gathered around a long table, knocking back champagne and savoring a carb-light menu of watermelon and feta salad, shrimp tempura, and desserts like matcha mandarine choux and dark chocolate shiitake cremeux.

Myleene’s Instagram post captured the vibe: “Celebrating our girl @shishib. 50 years on this planet and every one of them used to spread love. We’re lucky to have you in our lives.” Holly, fresh from charity work at the BGC Group Charity Day, rocked a chic burgundy leather skirt and M&S alpaca-blend jumper, while Myleene dazzled in a red jumper paired with a daringly short black miniskirt and tights. Photos showed the women growing “merrier” as the day progressed, posing for a group snap radiating “girl power,” per Daily Mail. A video of them clinking glasses went viral on TikTok, hitting 2 million views, with fans gushing, “Holly and Myleene are friendship goals!” (@CelebVibes, 500K likes).

But the lavish setting—Ce La Vi’s exclusivity and the £200-per-head menu, per The Sun—drew criticism amid the UK’s cost-of-living crisis. “While we’re scraping by, Holly and Myleene are sipping fizz at a posh restaurant,” tweeted @UKWorker23, echoing sentiments from Holly’s recent MRI scan backlash. The timing, clashing with the NTAs, amplified the controversy, with The Mirror noting, “They chose champagne over awards—fans aren’t happy”.

Why Skip the NTAs? The Theories Swirl

The decision to ditch the NTAs sparked rampant speculation. Here are the leading theories, drawn from media reports and fan chatter:

Myleene’s Feud with The Saturdays: Myleene’s rumored 10-year feud with Loose Women co-star Frankie Bridge and This Morning’s Rochelle Humes, both ex-members of The Saturdays, may have played a role. The tension, detailed by Daily Mail, stems from Myleene’s 2013 confrontation with Frankie at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, believing she was being “blanked”. The feud escalated in August 2025 when Myleene accused her ex-husband, Graham Quinn, of cheating with a celebrity at her birthday party, per 112.ua. Rochelle’s recent Ibiza holiday snap with Quinn, a former JLS tour manager, reportedly infuriated Myleene, prompting ITV to keep her and Frankie apart on Loose Women since December 2024. Skipping the NTAs, where Frankie and Rochelle were present, may have been a strategic move to avoid drama. “Myleene’s not hiding, but she’s dodging awkwardness,” an insider told The Sun.

Holly’s Career Reset: Holly’s absence aligns with her quieter 2025 profile. After quitting This Morning in October 2023 following a kidnap plot scare, her Netflix show Bear Hunt was shelved after one season, and Dancing on Ice was axed, per heatworld. Rumors swirled she’d quit TV, but her September 17 pub quiz appearance for Garnier and plans for ITV’s You Bet! with Stephen Mulhern signal a comeback. Skipping the NTAs, where This Morning’s win might have put her in the spotlight, could reflect a desire to distance herself from past controversies, like the Phillip Schofield scandal. “Holly’s focusing on new projects—she doesn’t need the NTA circus,” a source told Daily Mail.

Prioritizing Friendship: Both stars attended the BGC Charity Day hours before, raising funds for bereaved families, per Daily Mail. Choosing Shiarra Bell’s milestone birthday over the NTAs suggests loyalty to their inner circle. Myleene’s heartfelt tribute to Bell and Holly’s post-charity appearance frame the bash as a personal priority. “They’re celebrating a friend who means the world to them,” tweeted @HollyFanUK, gaining 15,000 likes.

A Statement of Independence: Some fans see the snub as a power move. Myleene’s bold Sky Arts Awards appearance days later in a sheer black lace dress, per Daily Mail, and Holly’s recent charity work suggest they’re charting their own paths. “Holly and Myleene don’t need the NTAs—they’re bigger than that,” posted @TVInsider2025 on X, with 50,000 retweets.

Fan Reactions: From Shock to Support

Social media erupted with mixed reactions. On X, #HollyMyleeneNTA trended at 1.5 million mentions, with fans split. Critics slammed the optics: “Holly’s already catching heat for that £1,500 MRI freebie, now this? Tone-deaf,” tweeted @LondonMum2025, referencing her September 22 scan post backlash. Another user, @NTALover, fumed, “The NTAs are about fans voting—snubbing it feels like a slap.” The sentiment echoed Holly’s MRI controversy, where #HollyToneDeaf hit 1.2 million mentions for flaunting a £1,495 scan gifted by Ezra.

Supporters, however, rallied behind the duo. “Holly and Myleene chose friendship over a stuffy awards show—good for them!” tweeted @GirlPowerUK, with 20,000 likes. On TikTok, a montage of their Ce La Vi snaps set to Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” racked up 3 million views, with comments like, “They’re living their best lives!” Reddit’s r/BritishTV debated fiercely, with 4,000 comments on a thread titled “Holly & Myleene’s NTA Snub: Rude or Relatable?” One user wrote, “They’re human—let them celebrate their friend!” Another countered, “It’s disrespectful to fans who voted for This Morning.”

The backlash tapped into 2025’s cultural divide: admiration for Holly and Myleene’s success versus frustration with their perceived privilege. The UK’s economic strain—3.5% inflation and 10% energy bill hikes, per Sky News—amplified resentment. “Champagne parties while we can’t pay bills? Not a good look,” posted @UKWorker23, gaining 30,000 likes.

Inside the Bash: What Really Happened?

Ce La Vi, a high-end Asian-fusion restaurant, set the stage for a night of decadence. The menu, detailed by Daily Mail, featured £20 starters and £50 mains, with champagne flowing freely. Myleene’s video showed the group toasting Bell, laughing, and dancing to a live DJ, with Emma Bunton leading a singalong to “Spice Up Your Life,” per The Mirror. Laura Whitmore, fresh from her true crime doc drop, shared Instagram Stories of the group’s “girl power” pose, captioned, “Here’s to 50 years of Shiarra!” (@thewhitmore, 1 million views).

Insiders told heatworld the party wasn’t just a celebration—it was a bonding session for Holly and Myleene, whose friendship has deepened amid career turbulence. “Holly supported Myleene through her Graham Quinn drama, and Myleene’s pushing Holly to shine again,” a source said. Their talks reportedly touched on a potential TV collaboration, with whispers of a joint project in 2026. “They’re an unlikely duo, but their chemistry’s electric,” the insider added.

The absence of Frankie Bridge and Rochelle Humes, both tied to This Morning and Loose Women, fueled feud rumors. “No way Myleene would’ve gone if Frankie was there,” tweeted @ITVDrama, citing their Loose Women tensions. Holly’s neutrality—she’s close to both Myleene and Rochelle—may have kept her from picking sides, but her presence at the bash leaned toward Team Myleene.

The Context: Holly and Myleene’s 2025 Struggles

Holly’s 2025 has been rocky. Her This Morning exit in 2023, prompted by a kidnap plot by Gavin Plumb, shook her, per heatworld. The cancellation of Bear Hunt and Dancing on Ice, plus Schofield’s 2023 affair scandal, dimmed her star, with rumors she’d quit TV. Her September 17 Garnier event and You Bet! gig signal a comeback, but the MRI scan backlash—#HollyToneDeaf trending at 1.2 million—hurt her image. Skipping the NTAs, where This Morning’s win might’ve forced awkward reunions, suggests a strategic retreat.

Myleene’s year has been equally fraught. Her Loose Women spat with Coleen Nolan on September 10, where she snapped, “That’s terrible though!” over a Jeffrey Epstein debate, sparked headlines. Her feud with Frankie and Rochelle, plus her bombshell claim about Quinn’s cheating, kept her in the tabloids. Her Sky Arts Awards appearance on September 16 in a sheer black lace dress was a defiant flex, per Daily Mail, but skipping the NTAs hints at avoiding confrontation.

The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters in 2025

The snub resonates in a post-Brexit, post-COVID UK grappling with inequality. The NHS’s 7.6 million diagnostic waitlist and economic woes make lavish parties a sore spot. Holly and Myleene, with net worths of £12 million and £7.5 million respectively, per The Sun, are easy targets. “They’re out of touch,” posted @LondonLad2025, echoing the MRI backlash. Yet, their charity work—Holly’s BGC Day and Myleene’s MBE for music and charity—complicates the narrative.

The NTAs snub also reflects 2025’s shifting TV landscape. ITV’s cuts, per Daily Mail, have heightened tensions, with Myleene’s Loose Women drama a symptom. Holly’s move to Netflix and Myleene’s radio focus suggest both are pivoting from traditional TV. Their potential collaboration, teased by heatworld, could be a game-changer, leveraging their chemistry and fanbases.

Fan Sentiment and What’s Next

X and TikTok reflect a divided audience. Supporters praise their loyalty: “Holly and Myleene choosing friends over awards is iconic,” tweeted @GirlSquadUK (25,000 likes). Critics, however, see arrogance: “Snubbing the NTAs shows they don’t care about fans,” posted @TVFan2025 (40,000 retweets). Reddit’s r/BritishTV predicts Holly will address the backlash on You Bet!, while Myleene’s Loose Women return may face scrutiny.

Holly’s Dancing on Ice revival in January 2026 and Myleene’s radio gigs offer redemption chances. A joint project, if heatworld’s scoop holds, could reframe their narrative. “They’re plotting a comeback—watch this space,” tweeted @ShowbizInsider. For now, the Ce La Vi bash—champagne, laughter, and all—has cemented Holly and Myleene as TV’s most talked-about rebels, proving that in 2025, even a party can spark a cultural firestorm.