Smug Saturday night takeaway presenters Ant and Dec are in a fit of rage after finding out they were presented with an award they didn’t win at the 2005 British Comedy Awards.

 The deception emerged as media watchdog Ofcom fined ITV £5.68m over its use of premium rate phone lines. The rightful winner of the People’s Choice Award was The Catherine Tate Show.

 ITV used Independent law firm Olswang to conduct an investigation in to the matter after allegations of irregularities.

 Now the, loved by Grannies everywhere, duo have been told they must return their awards (of which they have three) and ITV could offer no explanation as to why Ant and Dec were picked to receive the prize.

 Failed crooner Robbie Williams was invited to present the award, but it is understood he would only do so if Ant and Dec were going to win “. In order to ensure his attendance, this assurance was given.”

The report pointed out that the arrangement was made after the nights main winners had been decided by a jury and “the only award still to be decided was the People’s Choice award”.

 Olswang also found out those viewers were further deceived because the final section of the 2005 ceremony was broadcast with a half-hour delay to fit around the main nightly news bulletin. This delayed segment continued to ask the audience to vote for the People’s Choice Award, even though votes had been counted and the trophy had already been handed out.

 ITV itself will not be subject to sanctions over the incident. This is because a different firm, Channel Television, was responsible for ensuring the British Comedy Awards complied with broadcasting regulations.

 Last year’s ceremony was not shown on TV, but production company Michael Hurll Television told the BBC that 2008’s show was already “in the schedule”. In a statement it said it was “embarrassed and deeply apologetic”, as well as “frustrated” that the Olswang report had added “nothing of material significance to our original internal inquiry”.