Sir David Attenborough has ended Ant and Dec’s hopes of reclaiming the National Television Award for TV Presenter, taking the prize in his centenary year at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.
The veteran broadcaster’s victory means Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have gone without the award for a second consecutive year, after their record 23-year run was ended by Gary Lineker in 2025. Attenborough was not at the ceremony, with his producer Mark Brownlow accepting the trophy on his behalf.
Mr Brownlow used his speech to highlight the dangers of climate change, delivering the message on behalf of the 100-year-old natural history broadcaster.
The 2026 National Television Awards, hosted by Joel Dommett and broadcast live on ITV, were held on Tuesday, 8 September. Winners across the main categories were decided by public vote, while the Special Recognition Award was selected separately. ([theo2.co.uk](https://www.theo2.co.uk/events/detail/national-television-awards-2026))
National Television Awards 2026 winners
This Morning continued its strong run at the NTAs, winning the Daytime award. Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard collected the prize alongside Friday presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
Strictly Come Dancing was named Best Talent Show ahead of a major revamp, while The Celebrity Traitors won the Reality Competition category. Alan Carr, who featured in the BBC reality hit, returned to the stage to accept the award after receiving the evening’s Special Recognition honour.
“I bet you’re sick of me,” Carr joked as he accepted his second trophy of the night.
He had earlier been reduced to tears by the surprise tribute, which formed part of an elaborate opening sequence featuring Paloma Faith being carried on in a coffin and Amanda Holden singing. Carr’s Special Recognition award was confirmed by the National Television Awards and was the only honour of the night not determined by a public vote. ([nationaltvawards.com](https://www.nationaltvawards.com/))
Charlotte Church, another contestant on The Celebrity Traitors, praised Carr and fellow Faithfuls Nick Mohammed and David Olusoga for what she described as a moment of “male tenderness and emotion”.
Jeremy Clarkson’s Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm won the Reality Docuseries award. The presenter, who revealed earlier this year that he was in remission from prostate cancer, kept his acceptance speech brief before speaking to reporters afterwards.
Clarkson, 66, said: “I wasn’t emotional; it was annoying. I had a heart thing, and I had a bit of cancer but I wasn’t away really, it was two weeks.
“It was just annoying because I missed a lot of the harvest time.”
Lee Mack collected the Quiz Show award for The 1% Club, attending the ceremony with his three children and paying tribute to his wife during his speech. Michael McIntyre’s Big Show won the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award.
Mrs Brown’s Boys was named Best Comedy Show, providing a boost for Brendan O’Carroll as he continues to recover from surgery after breaking his jaw. Members of the cast said the actor was disappointed to miss the ceremony but had watched proceedings from home, and confirmed that a new series is due next year.
Gogglebox won the Factual Entertainment award, while Call the Midwife was named Best Returning Drama. Emmerdale took the Serial Drama prize, with Jeff Hordley winning Serial Drama Performance for his portrayal of Cain Dingle.
Vicky McClure won Drama Performance for her role as explosives officer Lana Washington in Trigger Point, after the category made NTA history with an all-female shortlist. Sheridan Smith-led drama I Fought the Law was named Best New Drama.
The Authored Documentary award went to Our Girls: The Southport Families.
The ceremony brought together television favourites and reality stars at the O2, with Olivia Attwood, Rochelle Humes and Cat Deeley among those attracting attention on the red carpet. Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks presented the arrivals for the third year running.
The result nevertheless belonged to Attenborough, whose win delivered the night’s defining moment and left Britain’s most successful presenting partnership waiting at least another year for a return to the top.
