Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid has commented on the Oscars race row saying it is "ludicrous".
Reid took to the red carpet at the National Television Awards (NTAs) with her new co-host Piers Morgan.
She added said she also thought it was a "real shame" for those who are nominated, because "all of a sudden it's overshadowed by a row".
The Academy has been subject to criticism and calls for a boycott over its all-white line-up of acting nominees, with its president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, now pledging "big changes" to bring about "much-needed diversity".
Asked if she thought Morgan would ever follow in her footsteps and do BBC dancing show Strictly Come Dancing, she quipped: "I think you'd have to pay Piers beyond the BBC budget to do Strictly."
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips admitted she was backing X Factor boss Simon Cowell.
Dancing star Phillips said he had a "real soft spot" for Cowell as she spoke ahead of the big ceremony.
She also commented on the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother, saying she thought it was "like a human experiment to see how far people can go".
Former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton said she hoped that morning TV presenter Rylan Clark took home the best entertainment presenter award.
TV duo Ant and Dec have won the award for more than 10 years in a row, but Heaton said she was backing Clark.