STRICTLY Come Dancing won the NTA Talent Show category for the ninth year in a row last night.
Its victory shows that the public still backs the programme despite ten months of allegations of inappropriate behaviour behind the scenes.
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And it is the perfect boost for the BBC One show, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year — and launching a new series on Saturday.
Strictly beat Britain’s Got Talent, MasterChef, The Great British Bake Off and The Voice to the title.
It comes after pro dancer Giovanni Pernice was investigated for alleged bullying behaviour towards actress Amanda Abbington on last year’s show, with the BBC launching an investigation.
Then, fellow pro Graziano Di Prima was sacked when video footage emerged of him allegedly kicking his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott.
Zara was at last night’s awards, at London’s O2 Arena, wearing a revealing velvet dress and smiling on the red carpet.
Tasha Ghouri, one of this year’s Strictly contestants, wore a short, sparkly frock but refused to be drawn on the controversy.
She said: “For me, I wasn’t there last year and I want to focus on my own experience and just have a good time. This is a dream of mine. I’m going to go all in and not think about everything that has happened.”
The Sun revealed this week that next year’s Strictly Professionals tour had been axed following allegations that returning dancer Aljaz Škorjanec had an altercation with a female pro on tour two years ago.
The spotlight had also turned on judge and former pro Anton Du Beke, who was ticked off in 2009 for saying that his celebrity partner Laila Rouass “looked like a P***” following a spray tan.
Actress Laila said that he had apologised and added: “I do not believe Anton is racist.”
But Anton was last night snubbed by viewers in the Expert category, which went to naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Claudia Winkleman, who co-hosts Strictly with Tess Daly, missed out on the best TV Presenter gong — which went to Ant and Dec for the 23rd year in a row.
And the BBC took a bashing overall, winning in just four categories out of 17.
Claudia’s other hit The Traitors was the Beeb’s biggest win, taking the Reality award after a storming second series where viewing figures peaked at seven million an episode.
She said: “This means everything — I was just shaking and all of us can’t believe it.
“We never take it for granted and it’s always nice to be invited — they have mini hoisin duck rolls.”
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The show’s winner this year, Harry Clark, added: “It’s like a dream come true.
“We’re at the NTAs and we’ve won an NTA.
“I mean, we’re just normal people, that’s why it’s so amazing, normal people doing normal jobs.”
Channel 4 received no awards. But ITV had a triumphant night, winning nine out the 17.
The 1% Show took Quiz Show, while Emmerdale scooped the coveted soap, or serial drama, gong.
Coronation Street’s Peter Ash was honoured as best soap star for his performance as Paul Foreman, who has battled motor neurone disease. The character died on Monday night’s episode.
He said: “I genuinely am over the moon. It means so much that people have really responded to Paul’s MND storyline.
“It means the world to us. The response has been amazing. It just makes it all worthwhile.”
Surprise surprise!
Comment by Rod McPhee
THE only surprise at tonight’s National Television Awards was that there were virtually no surprises.
Ant and Dec took home Presenter Award for the millionth time, Strictly bagged the Talent Show gong and I’m A Celebrity triumphed in the Entertainment category.
Kate Garraway scooping the authored documentary award for Derek’s Story was entirely deserved, but not a total shock either as she’d already done the same two years ago with Caring for Derek.
There were a few curveballs.
Emmerdale beating Goliath soaps EastEnders and Corrie was unexpected, particularly as the rivals have both boasted big storylines recently.
And though there was no doubting how hugely moving Mr Bates Vs The Post Office was for viewers this year, it was still stunning to see them bag three awards.
Does the general lack of surprises diminish the thrill of the NTAs? Not at all.
It remains one of the few awards shows which actually gauges what the majority of Brits are actually watching.
We live in a bewildering world where scandals often rock shows, in an age where streaming means the shared experience is diminished and ratings are hard to decipher.
But year in, year out NTA voters leave us in no doubt which shows they adore, which ones they’ve fallen out of love with, and which celebrities they’re prepared to back.
Look at how quickly relatively new shows like The Traitors, Bridgerton and The 1% Club have been embraced by NTA voters.
They aren’t interested in PR stunts and promotion, in highbrow actors and writers lauded by their fellow luvvies and they certainly can’t stand having what they ought to be watching dictated to them.
They tell us all loud and clear, every year, who they consider to be the best – and woe betide any telly exec who ignores them.
But Ant and Dec remain the channel’s biggest draw for voters as the kings of TV.
As well as Best Presenter , they picked up an award for I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! In the Entertainment category.
Ant said: ““It’s really, really hard to put into words just how this feels year after year and how much it means to us that you take the time to vote for us and make us your winners.
“Honestly, it’s a joy, we know we’re not gonna win it one year but it’s not tonight, thank God.
“But thank you to everybody who works with us on our shows, we love you, we wouldn’t be here without you guys.”
Dec said: “Thank you.
“It’s really hard to put into words just how this feels and what it means to us that you take the time to vote for us.”
The night also marked a return for Holly Willoughby as it was the first time she had taken to the stage since quitting This Morning in October last year.
She left the ITV series after a plot to kidnap, rape and murder her was revealed.
Security guard Gavin Plumb, 37, was later jailed for life for the plan.
Holly’s departure from the daytime show after 14 years also followed a rocky few months after co-host Phillip Schofield left.
While Holly has since been back on TV, fronting Dancing On Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern, the NTAs was a major return to the spotlight for the presenter, who had slashed her workload.
She was able to catch up with her pals from This Morning and had time for a hug with pal Dermot O’Leary on the red carpet.
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