On the eve of its 50th anniversary, King Charles III lauded Emmerdale’s contribution as the soap received numerous National Television Awards (NTAs).
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby retained their positions as king and queen of daytime television following the “queue-gate” scandal.
In his acceptance speech, money-saving expert Martin Lewis criticized the government’s economic policies.
Additionally, Ant and Dec won their twenty-first consecutive best presenter title.
However, they missed the ceremony since they were both caught by Covid.
Due to the death of the Queen, this year’s National Television Awards (NTAs) were held one month later than originally scheduled at Wembley Arena in London.
In a video filmed before his mother’s death, the King congratulated Emmerdale on having nearly reached its half-century mark and recalled “being so ancient” that he remembered it as Emmerdale Farm in its infancy.
The next monarch lauded the show as a “great British product” that remained faithful to its creator’s initial aim – “depicting the real lives of those who work the land and maintain our treasured countryside.”
It also emphasizes excellently something that deeply concerns me: the long-term sustainability of our food production methods.
Following the speech, it was announced that Mark Charnock, who portrays Marlon Dingle, had received the award for best performance in a serial drama.
Charnock, whose character suffered a stroke, later told Daniel Rosney of the BBC that it had been “overwhelming” to see so many others relate their comparable experiences in response to the poignant plotline.
Boy George presented the prize for the best serial drama to the Yorkshire soap opera, joking, “I’ve been upstaged in my time by a few queens but never by a king.”
The concert included segments commemorating both the Queen’s passing and the war in Ukraine, with many celebrities donning black on the night in question.
Recently, ITV executives defended This Morning host Willoughby and Schofield after they were accused of skipping the line for the Queen’s lying-in-state.
Schofield, accepting the prize for the best daytime program for the second year in a row, stated, “Please don’t ever take this for granted, and please don’t ever think we’re complacent.
Every year, this means so much to us, but especially this year.
“We have the most incredible team, and I have the best friend,” he said to Willoughby. We have the best leader.
The arena was filled with booing, but they quickly subsided when the famed duo and their team took the stage.
This award means everything because it is based on your votes, and I believe This Morning has a really special relationship with you, said Willoughby. “You make our performance for us,” in fact.
Timur Miroshnychenko, a Ukrainian broadcaster, hailed the United Kingdom for its continuous support and stated that his country is “looking forward” to Eurovision 2023, which will be held in Liverpool because the 2022 winners are currently unable to host the competition.
‘Get a grip’
Sam Ryder, the United Kingdom’s Eurovision representative, kicked up the evening with an energizing performance of his song Space Man before Lewis Capaldi sang his new single Forget Me.
In the midst of this, though, things turned political when consumer advocate Martin Lewis won a new category for outstanding expert.
Referring to the cost-of-living problem, Lewis, who was astonished to have won the prize over Sir David Attenborough, stated, “it’s been a fairly terrible year financially.”
I mean, the energy situation has been awful and has left a large number of people with severe problems and mental health issues,” he remarked.
“I’m afraid that next year will be a difficult one due to the mortgage situation and its effect on rent.
“And what do you know?” Lewis added. Someone must regain control of the economy and stabilize the situation.
Soon after the ceremony, chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng cut short his trip to the United States to hold urgent discussions in Downing Street, as pressure increases on Prime Minister Liz Truss to reverse her position on the mini-budget.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly defeated Alison Hammond to win their twenty-first straight presenting award; the last time they didn’t win was in 2000 when Michael Barrymore took home the prize.
Paddy Bever, who portrays Max Turner on Coronation Street and won the award for a rising star on Thursday night, was not even alive at the time.
Stephen Mulhern accepted the medal on their behalf and stated, “21 years in a row! Full respect to these people!”
Then, playfully, he affixed his name to the trophy and declared, “This baby is mine!”
Kate Garraway won the award for a best-authored documentary for the second consecutive year, as she continued to document her family’s life as her husband Derek Draper received treatment for coronavirus.
She thanked the film’s creators for “making a very tough thing easier” and dedicated the award to the nation’s caregivers.
“We have a care problem in our society, but not a love crisis,” Garraway stated as she confirmed her husband’s return to the hospital.
Sir Lenny Henry received the special recognition award after being commended in a video by celebrities for paving the way for other black British musicians.
“These awards are so lengthy that David Beckham is still waiting in line to get in,” he chuckled, a gesture to the royals.
After Life, Peaky Blinders/Cillian Murphy, and Strictly Come Dancing were among the additional winners of the evening.
Last year’s Strictly champion Rose Ayling-Ellis, who stunned the nation with a dance dedicated to the experience of deaf people everywhere, stated that the talent competition had helped to “alter people’s attitudes” as it won the title.
