Strictly Come Dancing and Mr Bates vs the Post Office win
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Anton Du Beke, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman accepted the Strictly award
Strictly Come Dancing has been voted the winner of one of the top prizes at the National Television Awards, despite a difficult few months for the show following claims about the treatment of some its contestants.
The BBC dance contest was named best talent show at the ceremony on Wednesday.
There was a double celebration for co-host Claudia Winkleman, whose other show, The Traitors, was named best reality competition.
The night’s other big winners included ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, plus Ant and Dec, who extended their NTA winning streak to 23 years.
Strictly hosts ‘so grateful’
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Strictly’s stars and programme-makers celebrated together on stage
The BBC’s flagship Saturday night show has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months, after two professional dancers were dropped following complaints about their behaviour and teaching methods in rehearsals.
But days before it returns to screens for its new series, Strictly proved it has not lost its shine with viewers, who voted it best talent show over competitors including The Great British Bake Off and Britain’s Got Talent.
The recent scandal was not referenced on stage, but its hosts were clearly overjoyed to win.
“My heart is beating, Claude,” Tess Daly said to her co-host.
“It means the world, genuinely, to all of us.”
Winkleman added: “This means everything. We’re so grateful. We’re going to do the conga.”
Post Office campaigners steal show
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Actress Monica Dolan (left) was accompanied by Jo Hamilton, who she played in Mr Bates vs the Post Office
Mr Bates vs the Post Office was voted best new drama and Toby Jones won best drama performance for playing the title role.
In his acceptance speech, the actor said: “This means an awful lot, not just to me but to the extraordinary people who inspired our show, some of whom are in the audience this evening.”
A group of the subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of fraud and false accounting joined the show’s stars on stage at the ceremony at the O2 arena in London.
The programme also received a special impact award, with one of the real Post Office scandal victims using the acceptance speech to criticise the support offered by the new government.
“What I’d like you to know is I went to Westminster a couple of weeks back and saw the new minister,” Jo Hamilton said. “And trust me, nothing has changed.”
National Television Awards: Post Office drama stars honour real-life counterparts
Ant and Dec continue winning streak
Ant and Dec jointly won the best TV presenter trophy again, extending their winning streak in the category to 23 years.
This year, the duo held off challenges from Winkleman, Alison Hammond, Bradley Walsh and Stacey Solomon.
“It’s really, really hard to put into words just how this feels year after year,” Declan Donnelly said.
“It’s a joy,” Ant McPartlin added. “We know we’re going to not win it one year – but it’s not tonight.”
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Ant and Dec continue to dominate the best TV presenter category
Donnelly put the latest win down to a lucky charm from his six-year-old daughter Isla.
“She left for school first thing this morning and she said, ‘Daddy, good luck tonight, I hope you win the trophy’. In fact she said, ‘Take my lip balm, I think it will be good luck’. Isla, it worked!”
One of Ant and Dec’s shows, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, was also voted winner of the Bruce Forsyth entertainment award – beating another of their hit programmes, Saturday Night Takeaway.
Garraway says award is ‘for Derek’
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Kate Garraway was accompanied by children Billy and Darcey
The night’s other winners included presenter Kate Garraway, whose highly personal programme about her late husband Derek Draper was named best authored documentary.
“It’s so strange to be here – this one’s for you Derek, absolutely,” she said, accepting the trophy alongside their children Billy and Darcey.
Draper died in January after living with extreme complications from Covid.
The Good Morning Britain co-host also praised carers across the country, and called for a system that better supports them.
“We need a system which catches us when we fall, not catches us out,” she said. “I’m going to keep the fight on for all of you.”
The National Television Award winners and nominees in full:
Authored documentary
Winner: Kate Garraway: Derek’s StoryBeckhamRhod Gilbert: A Pain in the NeckRobbie WilliamsRose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change
Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Winner: I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night TakeawayThe Graham Norton ShowThe Masked SingerMichael McIntyre’s Big Show
Comedy
Winner: Mrs Brown’s BoysBrassicThe GentlemenGhostsNot Going Out
Daytime
Winner: The ChaseDeal or No DealLoose WomenThis MorningThe Repair Shop
Drama performance
Winner: Toby Jones – Mr Bates vs the Post OfficeBrenda Blethyn – VeraJessica Gunning – Baby ReindeerMichelle Keegan – Fool Me OnceVicky McClure – Trigger Point
Expert
Winner: David Attenborough – MammalsAnton Du Beke – Strictly Come DancingKaleb Cooper – Clarkson’s FarmMartin Lewis – The Martin Lewis Money ShowTorvill & Dean – Dancing on Ice
Factual entertainment
Winner: Sort Your Life OutClarkson’s FarmGoggleboxMartin Lewis Money Show LiveThe Yorkshire Vet
New drama
Winner: Mr Bates vs the Post OfficeBaby ReindeerFool Me OnceOne DayRed Eye
Quiz game show
Winner: The 1% ClubAnt & Dec’s Limitless WinBeat the ChasersMichael McIntyre’s The WheelRichard Osman’s House of Games
Reality competition
Winner: The TraitorsThe ApprenticeCelebrity Big BrotherLove IslandRace Across the World
Returning drama
Winner: BridgertonCall the MidwifeThe CrownTrigger PointVera
Serial drama
Winner: EmmerdaleCasualtyCoronation StreetEastEndersHollyoaks
Serial drama performance
Winner: Peter Ash – Coronation StreetAngela Wynter – EastEndersDavid Neilson – Coronation StreetDiane Parish – EastEndersEden Taylor-Draper – Emmerdale
Talent show
Winner: Strictly Come DancingBritain’s Got TalentThe Great British Bake OffMasterChefThe Voice UK
TV presenter
Winner: Ant & Dec – I’m a CelebrityAlison Hammond – This MorningBradley Walsh – The ChaseClaudia Winkleman – The TraitorsStacey Solomon – Sort Your Life Out
Special recognition award
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