The National Television Awards returned to ITV on 10 September 2025, with all the glitz and glamour of Britain’s biggest stars. On its 30th anniversary year, it was once again the public who decided the winners, proving that UK audiences remain the heart of television.
BBC soap Eastenders claimed the night’s most coveted prize, winning Best Serial Drama on its own 40th anniversary year. An emotional Steve McFadden, long celebrated as Phil Mitchell, finally received Best Serial Drama Performance, recognition fans have stated is long overdue.
The evening’s biggest shock came from Gary Lineker. Following his high-profile departure from Match of the Day in May amid an anti-semitism row, he broke Ant and Dec’s 23-year streak to win Best TV Presenter. In his speech, he urged stars to “use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.”
Netflix hit Adolescence also stole the spotlight, with 15-year-old Owen Cooper’s acclaimed performance as Jamie Miller winning Best Drama Performance over seasoned co-star Stephen Graham. Accepting via video ahead of the Emmy Awards this weekend, Cooper thanked fans as the cast reunited later in the show to collect Best New Drama.
Controversy surrounded Molly-Mae Hague’s win for Best Authored Documentary with Amazon Prime’s Molly-Mae: Behind It All. Beating heartfelt contenders like There’s Only One Rob Burrow and Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, the Love Island star drew criticism online, with viewers calling the win “everything that’s wrong with the world.”
Nick Park, the creative mastermind behind Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit was presented with the Special Recognition Award following the success of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl last Christmas. Host Joel Dommett praised the success of the franchise, commenting that “Wallace & Gromit aren’t just characters – they’re part of our cultural DNA”.
Other awards of the night were given to Clarkson’s Farm, Gavin & Stacey and Strictly Come Dancing, alongside other renowned British shows equally deserving of praise. Three decades on from its first broadcast, it is clear that British television is still in its prime.
Words by Abigail Mableson
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