Bodyguard named best new drama at National Television awards

The BBC thriller Bodyguard has been named best new drama at the National Television awards, and its male lead, Richard Madden, won in the best drama performance category.

The awards were presented at a ceremony at the O2 in London on Tuesday evening. Also among those honoured were This Morning, Strictly Come Dancing and Peter Kay’s Car Share.

Accepting his award, Madden credited his Bodyguard co-star, Keeley Hawes, who had been nominated in the same category, adding: “You couldn’t ask for a better, more talented actress.”

The award was the second this month for Madden after he won the Golden Globe for best actor in a TV drama for the BBC One series.

“It’s been a hell of a year. It feels kind of surreal for me. It was a year ago, and now I’m here with this award. It feels very strange to me. I’m very lucky and thankful for that,” he said. “It’s insane that so many people watched [Bodyguard], then the amount of people who voted and went to the effort of doing that. It’s overwhelming. It’s appreciated, so thank you to everyone who did that.”

Ant and Dec won their 18th consecutive award in the TV entertainment presenter category after a difficult year for Anthony McPartlin, in which he was fined for drink-driving and chose to take time off to deal with personal problems.

“This is a genuine shock, especially this year,” McPartlin said. “We want to say thank you to everybody. I really don’t think that I can accept this award this year.” He said his partner, Declan Donnelly, was the “one reason we won”, complimenting his “hard work, his wit, his dedication”.

Danny Dyer won the award for best serial drama performance for his portrayal of Albert Square’s Mick Carter in EastEnders. Dyer delivered an emotional acceptance speech, thanking Harold Pinter for “believing in me when no one else did” and issuing a message to the nation’s youth.

“I just want to say to all you young kids living out there in poverty, who says they don’t have the right to dream? Do not let where you come from dictate, define, what you can do in life.

“You can be whatever you want to be.”

BBC Two’s Peaky Blinders won best drama, Peter Kay’s Car Share was given the best comedy award, while Strictly Come Dancing, took the talent show award.

This Morning was named the best daytime show as it celebrated three decades on television, prompting its co-presenter Holly Willoughby to call 2018 a “special year”. Phillip Schofield, who fronts the programme with her, added: “We never take it for granted. Our This Morning family are amazing. Our viewers are part of the This Morning family.”

This Morning beat Good Morning Britain, which is presented by Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid and others, to the honour.