Viewers slam Lorraine Kelly after she receives special BAFTA award during ceremony

Lorraine Kelly may have cause for celebration after winning a special award at the BAFTAs - but it looks like not everyone is joining in.

The Scottish presenter was lauded at the award ceremony for her outstanding contribution to television.

She got rapturous applause from the assembled celebrities at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London last night (12 May), with the notable exception of stand-up Judi Love, whose reaction to Lorraine's win went viral:

The reception on X was also rather frosty.

The BAFTAs put out a tweet celebrating Kelly, writing: "Lorraine Kelly CBE received the BAFTA Special Award.

"Read more about Lorraine’s incredible career in our #BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises."

And it didn't take long for social media critics to swoop in.

One person fumed: "What does CBE stand for? “Can’t be enthusiastic” about her own show? Should be called Ranvir, she presents it more!"

This was a nod to Ranvir Singh, who presents Lorraine's ITV morning show intermittently when Lorraine is absent.

Another commenter ranted: "This has to be a joke, surely. She is the worst interviewer ever.

"She is a yes woman who sucks up to everyone."

"I'm surprised she didn't get Christine [Lampard] or Ranvir to collect it for her," another scoffed.

A fellow commenter wrote: "I'm shocked. Not in a good way."

Clearly, some viewers were not pleased that Kelly had won - and her absences from her chat show have long been a point of contention.

A X account has even been set up to keep track of how many times she appears on her show.

So far, according to @LorraineKWatch, the veteran presenter has hosted 67 percent of her programmes this year.

On the days when Kelly isn't hosting, either Singh or Lampard substitute for her.

Kelly has previously paid tribute to her replacement hosts.

In January, Kelly was forced to take the day off to care for her sick mother.

She would later tweet: "Morning and huge thanks to the wonderful [Christine Lampard] for stepping in on Fridays so I can get back home.

"Great to see mum doing really well and I appreciate your kind messages."

This does not appear to have stopped criticism of her attendance.

Kelly even addressed the scrutiny in an interview with BBC Radio 4: "The amount of space I occupy in people's heads is quite bizarre.

"It's fine, I don't mind, I don't care,” she said.

“I probably would have cared before but I really don't now, it's absolutely fine.

"To be honest, you should never comment on things like that if you don't know what's going on in people's lives.

"I am having to take quite a few Fridays off because of my mum's really not well, so I can go home now and spend some more time with her, probably a bit more than I have been able to - so that's happening just now, but that will change."

The veteran ITV star added: "I have been doing five days a week for 40 years so I am taking a wee bit of time off and obviously this is half-term so I am free to talk to you, which is fantastic."

However, despite the scrutiny, plenty of fans were delighted for the 64-year-old's BAFTA win.

One gushed: "Congratulations Lorraine. 40 years on the TV. Well deserved special award."

Another wrote: "Well deserved," as a fellow admirer tweeted: "Love Lorraine."

Tyla has contacted Lorraine Kelly's representatives for comment.