04 September 2023 , 20:22
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It's the biggest, glitziest night in television as the great and good of the small screen get glammed up and head out, all hopeful for a gong of recognition.
Joel Dommett hosts The National Television Awards 2023 live from London’s O2 on Tuesday night as hundreds of stars gather. But with all the winners having been chosen by the viewers — not a stuffy judge in sight — what shocks and controversies will we see this year? TV Columnist Sara Wallis looks at who will be the big winners and who should really win…
COMEDY
SHORTLIST: Ted Lasso, Ghosts, Brassic, Young Sheldon
SHOULD WIN: Ghosts on BBC One is a comedy gem that has put life back into the schedules. Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, as the cash-strapped couple who inherited a crumbling mansion teeming with ghosts, lead a brilliant cast packed with Horrible Histories stars for a glorious and spooky romp. Dead funny.
WILL WIN: I have been a massive fan of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, with its underdog positivity, homemade biscuits and British/US culture clash. But the latest season, whisper it… didn’t shoot and score.
Happy Valley's Clare's death 'confirmed' after tragic final exchange with sister
DAYTIME
SHORTLIST: The Chase, This Morning, The Repair Shop, Loose Women
SHOULD WIN: The Repair Shop on BBC One is a wonder in living history, bringing a tear to the eye of even the most hardened viewer as it refurbishes and revamps memories. An usung hero of TV.
The Repair Shop is up for an honour (BBC/Ricochet/Guy Levy)WILL WIN: Surely after all the scandal surrounding ITV ’s This Morning, it can’t win (again)? Last year viewers booed the win over Holly and Phil’s queue-gate. But Ant & Dec survived Ant’s rehab, Phillip Schofield is gone… and I predict This Morning will still triumph.
RISING STAR
SHORTLIST : Benjamin Chivers (Isaac) The Devil’s House, Lewis Cope (Nicky Milligan) Emmerdale, Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey) Coronation Street, Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater) EastEnders
SHOULD WIN: Cutting through in a crowded field of fresh soap stars, Benjamin Chivers chilled in Prime Video’s eerie The Devil’s Hour. Alongside stars including Jessica Raine, Nikesh Patel and Peter Capaldi, Benjamin played troubled son Isaac, while his mum had scary nightmares.
WILL WIN: Bobby Brazier, son of Jeff Brazier and the late Jade Goody, has proved himself to be an instant hit on EastEnders.
SERIAL DRAMA
SHORTLIST: Emmerdale, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks
SHOULD WIN: EastEnders on BBC One, purely for the fact that they brought Cindy Beale back from the dead. With recent scenes from Albert Square featuring Cindy, Ian, Phil and Sharon, it has been like being transported back to the 90s - when the soap was in its heyday - and I’m here for it. Other big storylines include Mick’s tragic end and Lola’s death.
WILL WIN: ITV1’s Emmerdale is having its moment in the sun, with some excellent and emotional storylines, and will likely take the viewer’s vote.
RETURNING DRAMA
SHORTLIST: Vera, Call The Midwife, Happy Valley, Stranger Things
Happy Valley fans spot clue Alison will play key role in Tommy's deadly demise
SHOULD WIN: Happy Valley’s third and final series on BBC One was one of the most gritty, clever and brilliantly-acted pieces of television in recent history.
Brutal and tender throughout, with glossy-haired villain Tommy (James Norton) sparring with relatable grandma-of-the-year Catherine (Sarah Lancashire), it had surprises, twists, tears, redemption and ultimately a psycho on fire.
WILL WIN: Sunday night crowd-pleasers and a cult hit cannot beat Happy Valley in this category. With event telly episodes, it was in a league of its own.
TV INTERVIEW
SHORTLIST: The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show, The Graham Norton Show, Louis Theroux Interviews, Piers Morgan Uncensored
SHOULD WIN: With this new category, Graham Norton finally finds himself in a shortlist without Ant & Dec, who have pipped him to the TV Presenter post for decades. The king of the chat show, BBC darling Graham is the wine-swigging host who can elicit gossip from any unlikely pairing on his red sofa. Let the man win.
WILL WIN : It pains me to say it, but Chris and Rosie, on the BBC hot off their inexplicably popular podcast and better at bickering than interviewing, may take this.
SERIAL DRAMA PERFORMANCE
SHORTLIST: Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) Coronation Street, Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk) Emmerdale, Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer) Coronation Street, Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown) EastEnders
SHOULD WIN : Dominic Brunt’s portrayal of Paddy’s depression in Emmerdale has been heartwrenching and powerful. The plotlines would count for nothing if it wasn’t for the stars, and everyone cried a river when it was revealed that fan favourite Paddy had contemplated suicide.
WILL WIN: Charlotte Jordan has been excellent as Daisy in ITV1’s Corrie, playing out a harrowing acid attack and stalker storyline.
THE BRUCE FORSYTH ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
SHORTLIST: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Gogglebox, The Masked Singer, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
SHOULD WIN: Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV1 is the perfect old-school family entertainment show, reminiscent of big hits like The Generation Game. Every episode brings comedy sketches, musical performances and worthy viewers winning big prizes, Oprah-style. A family-in-need heading to Disney? No, you’re crying.
WILL WIN: I ’m A Celebrity on ITV1 always wins this category, so this is a predictable outcome, although it goes up against the popular Gogglebox on C4 this time, which could be the surprise winner.
QUIZ GAME SHOW
SHORTLIST: The Chase Celebrity Special, The 1% Club, Richard Osman’s House Of Games, Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
SHOULD WIN: Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel on BBC One is the hilarious lockdown-legacy that keeps on giving with celeb ‘experts’ (this term should be used loosely), a mounting cash prize, a giant spinning flashing wheel and an earworm theme tune. Family fun that’s er, wheely addictive.
WILL WIN: The Chase Celebrity Special because any show in ITV’s The Chase family tends to be unbeatable year on year. It must be Bradley Walsh’s enduring charm.
TALENT SHOW
SHORTLIST:Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Sewing Bee, The Great British Bake Off, Britain’s Got Talent
SHOULD WIN: I love cakes and sewing as much as the next person… ok mainly cakes, but these homegrown hits are lacking the showbiz glitz of other shows. Britain’s Got Talent is starting to feel dated, while BBC One’s Strictly brings drama, sparkle and star quality year after year.
It also doesn’t matter who the contestants are - chances are, that YouTuber you’ve never heard of will be your favourite by Halloween week.
WILL WIN : Strictly always wins and it probably always will. Don’t fight it.
REALITY COMPETITION
SHORTLIST: Race Across The World, SAS: Who Dares Wins, Love Island, The Traitors
SHOULD WIN: The Traitors on BBC One was the biggest, most talked-about show of the year. It’s basically the Highlands Hunger Games, with paranoia, guilt, backstabbing and betrayal - plus Claudia Winkleman looking ravishing in Tweed and fingerless gloves - as players plot for cash. An intense and twisting spectacle that killed it in the ratings.
WILL WIN: Surely there’s no way The Traitors can’t win? With Cluedo Christie vibes, hoods, cloaks and crying, what more do viewers want? Love Island? No thanks.
AUTHORED DOCUMENTARY
SHORTLIST: Rob Burrow: Living With MND, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now, Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, Deborah James : Bowelbabe In Her Own Words
SHOULD WIN: Souls were bared and bravery shown in all these documentaries, with Deborah charting both her phenomenal fundraising and tragic decline, while Lewis was candid about his anxiety and Matt opened up about his addiction. But it was Rob’s BBC2 film about the realities of living with the debilitating condition MND that really struck a chord.
WILL WIN: Any of these heartbreaking films could take the gong, but Deborah’s huge following might pip it.
DRAMA PERFORMANCE
SHORTLIST : Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan) Call The Midwife, Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood) Happy Valley, James Norton (Tommy Lee Royce) Happy Valley, India Amarteifio (Young Queen Charlotte) Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Brenda Blethyn (DCI Vera Stanhope) Vera
James Norton in Happy Valley (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)SHOULD WIN: Sarah Lancashire’s role as the single-grandparent cop Catherine Cawood was arguably her best ever performance, elevating a tense plot into something complex and captivating. She pulled off tragedy and comedy, all while running and catching killers.
WILL WIN: James Norton, a worthy contender. His character didn’t win their last face-off, but James is beloved by viewers.
TV PRESENTER
SHORTLIST:Martin Lewis, Alison Hammond, Bradley Walsh, Claudia Winkleman, Ant & Dec
SHOULD WIN: Claudia Winkleman is one of the most underrated and brilliant presenters. There’s a reason she’s front and centre of two of TV’s biggest shows.
On The Traitors, she is the witty puppet-master, somehow both ruthless and charming, while on Strictly, she is the relatable other half to Tess Daly’s more Stepford persona. Couldn’t love her more.
WILL WIN: Ant & Dec, yawn. Can anyone stop them winning for a 22nd consecutive year? Surely even they are over it now.
FACTUAL
SHORTLIST: Clarkson’s Farm, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, Sort Your Life Out
SHOULD WIN: The late, great Paul O’Grady, lover of dogs and humans, was charm personified. His ITV series at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home regularly pulled in millions of viewers as the comic mucked in and often couldn’t help but adopt the residents.
WILL WIN: After Martin bagged Best Expert last year, it’s clear that ITV’s The Martin Lewis Money Show is a big hit, as the financial guru saves viewers cash with his bill-breaking show. Moneysaving always wins.
NEW DRAMA
SHORTLIST: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Blue Lights, Wednesday, Beyond Paradise
SHOULD WIN: Wednesday, the Addams Family spin-off on Netflix. It has a delicious cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Christina Ricci, with Jenna Ortega a marvel as the creepy and kooky teen. A coming-of-age comedy thriller that felt both nostalgic and brand new. Cinematic, scary and sassy.
WILL WIN: Beyond Paradise, the BBC One Death In Paradise spin-off, with Kris Marshall back as hapless detective Humphrey. More of the same, lighthearted murder puzzles - a format hammered (or sometimes poisoned or stabbed) to death.