Molly‑Mae Hague has publicly responded to criticism following her National Television Awards win for Best Authored Documentary, saying the victory "belongs to" her fellow nominees and dedicating the prize to the late Rob Burrow and his family.
Hague, 26, whose Amazon Prime series Molly‑Mae: Behind It All premiered in January, beat documentaries including There's Only One Rob Burrow, Flintoff and Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me in the publicly voted category at the NTAs on Wednesday. On Thursday she posted on Instagram that she was "just speechless" and acknowledged that the stories of others in the category "will always be more powerful and inspirational than mine. I see that, I believe that and I want to acknowledge it again here. It was only right to dedicate this award to the late Rob Burrow and his family and to the remarkable people in my category… this win belongs to them."
In her acceptance speech at the ceremony Hague also paid tribute to Burrow, who died last year aged 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease, and thanked the public for votes. The documentary series follows Hague through a high‑profile personal period, including the end of her engagement to boxer Tommy Fury, his struggles with alcohol and the launch of her Maebe clothing line. Hague thanked her partner, her daughter Bambi and members of her team during the speech.
Reaction to the result was mixed on social media. Some users defended Hague, saying the public vote reflected viewers' connection with her series and noting that topics such as breakups, co‑parenting and addiction resonate widely. One supporter wrote that the series helped "people feel seen and validated". Others criticised the NTAs for placing Hague's documentary in the same category as films about serious illness and end‑of‑life struggles; one critic said the choice left Hague vulnerable to online abuse and described the awards as "an embarrassment."
Television presenter Stacey Solomon, a two‑time nominee at the event, publicly supported Hague on social media, writing: "You are special. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. congratulations darling." Vogue Williams was among those who questioned aspects of Hague's series, suggesting the split from Fury had been used to promote the show.
Hague also used Instagram to apologise to her long‑time manager, Francesca Britton, for failing to mention her in the onstage thank‑you list. Over a photograph of the pair, Hague called Britton "always by my side" and credited her as "the reason this documentary came to life."
Representatives for the NTAs did not immediately comment on the placement of entries in the Best Authored Documentary category. The awards are decided by public vote, a format that organisers say reflects audience preference rather than industry judgement.
Amy Dowden, a Strictly Come Dancing professional and cancer survivor who was nominated in the same category, and the family of Rob Burrow were included among the nominees recognised at the ceremony. Burrow’s documentary and Dowden’s film both received coverage on social media following the awards. Hague’s Instagram post expressed gratitude to those who voted and reiterated her appreciation for being able to "stand alongside such strength and inspiration."
The NTAs took place amid heightened public attention on celebrity documentaries, which have increasingly covered personal struggles alongside entertainment and lifestyle subjects. The debate over category placement and voter choice highlights tensions between public voting formats and editorial decisions about which programmes compete against one another.