NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS UNVEIL LONGLIST NOMINATIONS AS VOTING OPENS
Today (Tuesday 24th May 2022), contenders for the National Television Awards 2022 have been unveiled and voting has officially opened nationwide.
People power will now decide which best-loved personalities and programmes will take home the prizes at this year’s ceremony which, for the first time, comes from London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
On Thursday 15th September, hundreds of stars and thousands of fans will gather for Television’s biggest night of the year. And Joel Dommett will be back to host proceedings live on ITV and ITV Hub.
TV’s go-to specialists are celebrated in the brand-new Expert category which honours those beloved (and sometimes formidable) personalities who offer knowledge and inspiration in their chosen fields. The contenders with know-how include Steven Bartlett, Dame Prue Leith, Kaleb Cooper, Jay Blades, Rudy Reyes, Wim Hof and Sir David Attenborough.
This year’s NTA longlists feature more streamers than ever before, reflecting the changing broadcasting landscape. The likes of Heartstopper, Clarkson’s Farm, Bridgerton, Moon Knight, Slow Horses and F1: Drive to Survive prove the sheer breadth of programming that the digital providers now offer.
New Drama sees a raft of fact-based dramatisations – from Landscapers to A Very British Scandal, from The Dropout to Dopesick, from Pam & Tommy to The Thief, His Wife & The Canoe – up against fictional thrillers such as Vigil, Holding, The Responder, Time, The Tourist and Trigger Point.
Talent Show Judge celebrates the decision-makers who can make or break a hopeful’s dreams. It’s the people whose praise or criticism can elicit tears and affect careers. So, all rise for those presiding.
Oti Mabuse earns her debut nomination following her high-profile defection from the BBC’s Strictly to ITV’s Dancing On Ice. Among a starry field, she’s going up against her sister Motsi. Will sibling rivalry result?
Our Authored Documentary prize, in its second year, recognises heartfelt stories from the likes of Ashley Banjo, Ellie Simmonds, Will Young, Joe Wicks, Tan France and Julia Bradbury – along with a poignant posthumous nomination for The Wanted’s Tom Parker for his brave film Inside My Head, which raised awareness about brain tumours. Also included is last year’s winner Kate Garraway, who charted the next chapter of her husband’s Covid battle in Caring for Derek.
Bridgerton and Gentleman Jack did much to shake the foundations of period dramas with their first series, and both continued to make waves in their second outings. Both are in the running for Returning Drama against contemporary standout series In My Skin, Manhunt and the stellar final run of The Split.
Celebs being put through their paces is the theme when it comes to the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award. There’s stars enduring the biting cold in Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof and proving their sporting worth in The Games. Plus Rob and Romesh were once again well out of their comfort zones, while I’m A Celebrity had another headline-making year in Wales.
Factual Entertainment finds new streaming sensations Clarkson’s Farm and The Beatles Get Back vying for votes against established favourites including The Great British Sewing Bee, Gogglebox, Gordon, Gino and Fred Go Greek and Antiques Roadshow. But where do the audience’s affections ultimately lie?
Drama Performance sees two TV favourites in the frame as they depart famous roles: Cillian Murphy for Peaky Blinders and Jodie Whittaker for Doctor Who. They face stiff competition from other A-listers including Claire Foy, David Tennant, Lily James and Olivia Colman.
Meanwhile, there are double nods for drama queens Nicola Walker (for The Split and Annika) and Suranne Jones (for Vigil and Gentleman Jack) – alongside not one but three Martins (Clunes, Compston, Freeman).
Can anyone stop Ant and Dec? The pair are aiming for their 21st consecutive win in the TV Presenter category. But hoping to steal the crown will be Alison Hammond, Bradley Walsh, Graham Norton, Holly Willoughby or even our own Joel Dommett.
In the year that Neighbours is set to leave our screens for good, the beloved Australian soap takes on UK rivals Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for Serial Drama. Will they take the award home to Erinsborough?
Ahead of Danny Dyer’s headline-making exit from EastEnders and that final duff-duff, he’ll be hoping for votes in the Serial Drama Performance category, where he’s up against the likes of Sally Carman (aka long-suffering Abi on Coronation Street) and Mark Charnock, whose portrayal of Marlon’s recovery from a stroke on Emmerdale has earned him plaudits.
The 1% Club has already become a firm Saturday-night favourite with enviably high viewing figures. That success has earned it a place on the longlist for Quiz Game Show, where it’s in contention alongside a successful reboot of The Weakest Link, Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win as well as University Challenge, which is currently celebrating its 60th birthday. Will the golden oldie or the younger bucks win? Fingers on buzzers…
Talented performers breaking down barriers vie for Rising Star, with Heartstopper’s Joe Locke and Kit Connor in contention with Arin Smethurst, currently playing Casualty’s first regular transgender character. Also hoping for glory is TV newcomer Alison Oliver, now making waves in Conversations with Friends alongside new faces from Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders – and the hottest young talent loved by millions in our soaps.
The closely fought Comedy category promises to be no laughing matter, with the bittersweet final seasons of After Life and Derry Girls battling it out with favourites including Ghosts, Sex Education, Kate & Koji, Ted Lasso and new hit series The Outlaws.
It was all change during Daytime, with Dan Walker vacating the Breakfast sofa, while Good Morning Britain adjusted to life post-Piers Morgan. But both kept viewers up to date and entertained during these tumultuous times.
This Morning and Loose Women, meanwhile, continued to cover the day's talking points, while much needed escape came from popular quizzes like The Chase and Pointless, as well as sleuthing favourites Father Brown and Shakespeare and Hathaway. Something for all tastes – but which gets your votes?
Strictly Come Dancing may have waltzed off with the Talent Show award for the past few years, but some strong new formats could well steal away votes in 2022. Among them: lookalike singing contest Starstruck and the hugely popular Masked Singer.
TV’s biggest stars will be in their seats at the OVO Arena Wembley on 15th September 2022, when the results will be announced live on ITV and ITV Hub. Find out how to join them and book your own tickets at nationaltvawards.com.