TV

National Television Awards 2022

What are the National Television Awards?

The National Television Awards are Britain’s leading television awards and are often dubbed ‘Television’s biggest night of the year’. It can be one of the most watched television broadcasts and takes its popularity from the scale of its presentation, the calibre and quantity of stars it attracts and the fact that the winners of the awards are decided entirely by public voters.

2022 will be the 27th edition of the awards and will be held for the first time at the 12,500-seat OVO Wembley Arena in London on October 13th.

The National TV Awards were inaugurated in 1995 and has provided 26 editions of spellbinding ceremonies since. Over 350 NTA trophies have been handed out in since the awards began.

NTA categories

The NTA Awards are usually split into around 15 different categories, each representing a specific achievement within the television industry. The categories often award the ‘best in field’ in that particular area. For example, the best ‘Returning Drama’ in the 2021 awards was Line of Duty.

Here are some of the most prestigious awards and iconic winners from over the years.

Special Recognition Award

The Special Recognition Award is one of the most coveted awards offered at the ceremony though it can’t be won in one area specifically.

It is more often than not won by individuals for exceptional achievement in acting, directing, writing, and innovation in TV though every now and then, a programme can take victory. In 2021 for only the second time ever, a drama, Line Of Duty, won the award unaccompanied.

Impact Award

The Impact Award is another highly prestigious award that can be given out at the NTAs. It is not awarded every year, making it sought after and only appearing for recognisable, impactful and deserving cases.

David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II won it in 2018, and it has only been won once since, highlighting its stature.

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award

This award was originally called the entertainment award but was renamed honouring the late Bruce Forsyth. It is awarded recognising the best entertainment programming of the year.

Here are some of the other awards handed out at the NTAs, including last year’s winners and notable winners over the years.

Returning Drama

2021 – Line of Duty

Notable winner: Line Of Duty (2021)

Challenge Show

2021 – The Great British Bake Off

Notable winner: I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (2017)

New Drama

2021 – It’s A Sin

Notable winner: Chernobyl (2020)

Talent Show

2021 – Strictly Come Dancing

Notable winner: Strictly Come Dancing (2008)

Authored Documentary

2021 – Kate Garraway: Finding Derek

Notable winner: Educating Yorkshire (2014)

TV Presenter

Ant & Dec – Winning the award at every ceremony since 2001

Factual

2021 – Gogglebox

Notable winner: Paul O’Grady: for the Love of Dogs (2019)

Drama Performance

2021 – David Tennant (Des Neilson, Des)

Notable winner: Matt Smith (The Doctor, Doctor Who)

Serial Drama

2021 – Coronation Street

Notable winner: Eastenders (2008)

Serial Drama Performance

2021 – Mollie Gallagher (Nina Lucas, Coronation Street)

2019 – Danny Dyer

Quiz Game Show

2021 – Beat The Chasers

Notable winner: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (1999)

Newcomer

2021 – Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street)

Notable winner: Kym Ryder (Coronation Street) (2007)

Daytime

2021 – This Morning

Notable winner: This Morning (2018)

Comedy

2021 – After Life

Notable winner: Little Britain (2004)

How to vote for the national television awards

All members of the British public have the right to vote at the National Television Awards and can do so via post, telephone and online. The voting will open on September 20th and ends just before the show is broadcast on TV.

The results are declared live on ITV and are always a highlight regardless of whether you are supporting your favourite actor or programme.