Vicky McClure was among the biggest winners at the 2026 National Television Awards, taking home the Drama Performance award for her portrayal of Lana Washington in ITV’s Trigger Point.
The ceremony was held at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday, September 8, with Joel Dommett once again serving as host. The event brought together some of Britain’s best-known television stars, while audiences determined the winners through the public vote.
McClure faced strong competition in the Drama Performance category, which featured an entirely female shortlist. Her fellow nominees included Sheridan Smith for I Fought the Law, Ruth Jones for Run Away, Judy Parfitt for Call the Midwife and Ella Bruccoleri for The Other Bennet Sister.
The victory represented McClure’s first National Television Award and added another major achievement to her career. Her performance in Trigger Point, where she plays bomb disposal officer Lana Washington, has helped establish the drama as one of ITV’s prominent returning series.
While McClure secured the individual acting honour, I Fought the Law also left the ceremony with a major prize. The ITV production was named New Drama of the Year after attracting considerable attention for its portrayal of campaigner Ann Ming, played by Sheridan Smith.
Smith was unable to turn her nomination into an individual victory, but the programme’s award nevertheless provided a significant moment for its cast and production team.
Another established television favourite, Call the Midwife, also secured a notable victory. The long-running BBC drama won the Returning Drama award, beating competition from Blue Lights, Bridgerton, Stranger Things and Trigger Point.
The soap world was represented strongly during the ceremony as well. Emmerdale won the Serial Drama award, while Jeff Hordley was recognised with the Serial Drama Performance prize for his portrayal of Cain Dingle. The pair of victories marked a successful evening for the long-running ITV soap and its cast.
Sir David Attenborough was another prominent name to receive recognition. The veteran broadcaster won the TV Presenter award, adding another accolade to a television career spanning decades.
Several popular entertainment and reality programmes also featured among the winners. Strictly Come Dancing was named the year’s top Talent Show, while The Celebrity Traitors claimed the Reality Competition award. Clarkson’s Farm was honoured in the Reality Docuseries category, and Gogglebox took the Factual Entertainment prize.
The quiz-show category went to The 1% Club, while This Morning received the Daytime award. Comedy was represented by Mrs Brown’s Boys, which took home the Comedy prize, and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, which won the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award.
Alan Carr was also honoured during the evening with the Special Recognition Award. The accolade celebrated his contribution to British television and his long-running career as a presenter, comedian and entertainment personality.
One of the ceremony’s more poignant victories came in the Authored Documentary category. Our Girls: The Southport Families won the award after documenting the experiences of families affected by the Southport tragedy and the aftermath that followed.
The 2026 National Television Awards therefore provided a combination of established favourites, returning programmes and newer television successes. McClure’s acting victory stood out as one of the night’s major moments, while programmes including I Fought the Law, Call the Midwife, Emmerdale and The Celebrity Traitors also secured important public recognition.
With viewers deciding the winners, the ceremony once again highlighted the programmes, performers and presenters that made the strongest impression on British television audiences over the past year.