Ben Shephard offered a moment of private support to co‑host Cat Deeley as she arrived for the National Television Awards at London’s O2, amid what a Daily Mail account described as a carefully choreographed red‑carpet strategy by publicists and a raft of last‑minute dramas across television’s biggest night.
Dolly Busby, writing for the Daily Mail, reported that Deeley, making her first major red‑carpet outing since announcing her split from husband Patrick Kielty in July, appeared visibly nervous as she stepped from her car. The piece said Deeley told an organiser, "There's a lot going on," while trying to smooth her £5,160 emerald‑green Oscar de la Renta gown. According to the report, Shephard took her hand discreetly as she prepared to face photographers and interviewers, and Deeley spent much of the evening close to her co‑host as the This Morning team collected the award for Best Daytime Programme.
Busby’s account emphasised the degree to which red‑carpet appearances are managed by publicists to send particular messages — from solo arrivals signalling a split to tandem walks intended to introduce a new relationship. The Daily Mail piece described how some celebrities use brief exchanges with press as career boosters, while more established names sometimes view the ritual as repetitive.
The night also highlighted several developing personal stories. Love Island stars Yasmin Pettet, 24, and Jamie Rhodes, 26 — who finished third as a couple in last month’s public vote — arrived separately at the NTAs and did not speak to reporters, the Daily Mail said. The report added that Pettet spent time at the after‑party with fellow reality stars and was later seen with Traitors contestant Freddie Fraser, 21, in a corner of the venue. The paper’s account said Pettet and Rhodes were apart for much of the evening and that their separate arrivals had prompted questions about the status of their relationship.
EastEnders featured heavily in the evening’s awards and social round‑ups. The soap’s cast celebrated after winning Best Serial Drama, and Steve McFadden received the Serial Drama Performance award for his 35‑year run as Phil Mitchell. The report noted that actor Bobby Brazier, 22, who has been linked on and off screen with co‑star Aaliyah James, 25, was seen holding hands with her at the after‑party. Brazier also told reporters he will be leaving EastEnders, adding that he had enjoyed the last three months on the show more than previously, the Daily Mail said.
Not all high‑profile shows made an appearance. The Mail reported that National Television Awards organisers were "incredibly disappointed" that Strictly Come Dancing appeared to largely skip the red carpet. Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were unable to attend because they were booked to host Strictly’s launch show on the same night, and the report quoted production sources who expressed frustration that the BBC had scheduled the launch to coincide with the NTAs.
Busby’s piece also referenced a series of recent controversies surrounding Strictly — including a reported on‑tour slur by singer Wynne Evans, actor Amanda Abbington’s accusations of bullying, and the signing of Thomas Skinner, who earlier this month reportedly stormed out of a press event after clashing with a journalist. The account suggested those issues had intensified scrutiny of the show and contributed to the perceived importance of a public presence at the NTAs.
The coverage framed the evening as an exercise in managed visibility, where who attends, who walks alone and who shares the carpet can be read as deliberate communication. Organisers, publicists and stars navigate a narrow stretch of red carpet into a global, image‑saturated spotlight; the Daily Mail account presented the NTAs as an event where those decisions — and occasional absences — can carry as much attention as the awards themselves.