Lizzie Cundy said she battled London tube strikes to arrive at the National Television Awards on Wednesday evening, posing aboard a train in a strapless red gown as she made her way to the O2 Arena.
The TV personality, 57, wore a gold-sequinned, strapless gown and shared a photograph from the journey, posting: "Strike or no strike …. I will get to the ball. NTAs here I come!" The NTAs, marking their 30th anniversary, drew the nation's television stars to a red carpet hosted by Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks for a second consecutive year.
Among other attendees, Clarkson's Farm actor Harriet Cowan posted a TikTok showing a wardrobe dilemma, sharing five potential outfit choices and asking followers for input. Cowan, who said she rarely socialises with other celebrities, described herself as nervous about what to wear and did not reveal which option she ultimately selected. Vogue Williams shared a preview of her look on Instagram, appearing in a plunging, backless black dress paired with silver earrings.
The awards, organised to let the public recognise their favourite shows and talent, were established in 1995. Viewers have voted by post, telephone and online, and this year's programme included categories spanning reality, drama, comedy and daytime television. The ceremony was broadcast live on ITV2 and scheduled to run into the evening with entertainment performances interspersed between award presentations.
Long-running presenters Ant and Dec are tipped to continue their streak in the TV Presenter category, where they are nominated alongside Claudia Winkleman, Gary Lineker, Alison Hammond and Stacey Solomon. Ant and Dec have won the presenter prize for more than two decades; they took the award for the 23rd consecutive year last season and acknowledged at that time that their run could end one day.
Reality and competition categories feature stiff rivalry, with I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Love Island, Race Across the World and The Traitors contending in the Reality Competition category. I'm a Celebrity and other shows are also in contention for programme-specific awards.
New drama offerings included the Netflix hit Adolescence, which drew critical attention for Owen Cooper's portrayal of Jamie Miller. IndieWire described his performance as "enraging, emotional, horrifying, and heartbreaking in equal measure." Adolescence faced competition in the new drama category from Code of Silence, Ludwig, MobLand and Rivals.
Serial dramas remained a focal point for viewers, with Coronation Street and Emmerdale among nominees benefiting from wider availability on streaming via ITVX, which has allowed audiences to watch episodes at their convenience. Other serial drama nominees included Casualty, EastEnders and Hollyoaks. Gavin & Stacey, which aired a long-awaited final episode in Christmas 2024, was listed among nominees in the comedy category alongside Brassic, Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special and Mrs Brown's Boys.
The awards covered a broad range of categories beyond drama and reality, including quiz shows, factual entertainment, returning drama and documentary work. The programme's public-vote format and three-decade history have made it a barometer of popular taste in British television, with winners reflecting both long-running favourites and newer breakout hits.
Stars continued to arrive throughout the evening despite transport disruptions, with attendees balancing last-minute travel arrangements and on-the-day styling choices. The NTAs' mix of public voting and live presentation aims to celebrate widely viewed and discussed television across genres, with the night's results determined by viewers' ballots cast ahead of the ceremony.