NTAs 2024: Maura Higgins stuns in swanky frock as she leads glam celeb looks
The 2024 National Television Awards (NTAs) returned on Wednesday night and celebs certainly didn't disappoint for British television's biggest night of the year.
TV stars descended on the red carpet donning glamorous get-ups, with famous faces like Maura Higgins among the early arrivals outside The O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, this evening.
Love Island beauty Maura cut a super stylish figure as she stepped out in a pleather-looking top with a strapless, corseted, rose print-adorned dress over the top of it, reports the Mirror.
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Holly Willoughby made her red carpet comeback as she dazzled in a strapless shimmery gown. Actress Michelle Keegan was supported by her husband Mark Wright on their glamorous arrival ahead to the ceremony.
Other stars including Rochelle Humes and Cat Deeley turned heads as they arrived at the swanky bash donning fabulous frocks.
Reality stars including Vicky Pattison and former Love Island bombshell Zara McDermott were spotted earlier today arriving at their hotels ahead of meeting up with their glam squad to prepare for the big event. I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner Vicky joined by her new husband Ercan Ramadan.
Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach was also spotted arriving in casual clothes ready to have her hair and makeup done for the swanky bash.
Coronation Street actress Samia Longchambon shared some behind the scene snaps of herself travelling down on the train from Manchester, while Olly Murs tried to keep a low profile as he used the tube to make his way to The O2 Arena.
Zara went on to turn heads with her red carpet look as the Strictly Come Dancing star appeared in a floor-length strapless black fishtail dress.
Alison Hammond gave fans a sneak peek at her get-up as she posed in her garden ahead of the showbiz bash. The Great British Bake Off host looked stunning as she struck a pose in a long black gown with a white cape-like feature. "Nta Ready ! Let’s go @officialntas thanks @makeupbymikey @steviebstyle @hairbychar20," the TV star captioned the snap, with stars like Stacey Dooley rushing to compliment her on the chic look.
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2024 winner Sam Thompson and his BFF, new Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks, also arrived at the event, ready to host the red carpet as more stars made their way inside ahead of the ceremony kicking off.
Loved-up Love Island All-Stars couple Molly Smith and Tom Clare looked ready for the Halloween season as they arrived in all-black outfits. Molly stunned in a custom Boohoo form-fitting corseted dress with a thigh-high slit while Tom rocked a simple black suit. They held hands as they arrived at the venue.
Mark Wright Senior, Carol Wright, Jessica Wright and Natalya Wright rocked up to the event as a family on the red carpet, whilst This Morning presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard smiled alongside each other ahead of their first NTAs together as the ITV morning shows new hosting duo. Ben donned a traditional tix as Cat dazzled in a one-shoulder red gown.
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway walked the red carpet with her teenage children, Darcey and Billy Draper, whom she shares with her late husband Derek Draper. Kate will be keen to secure a hat-trick in the best-authored documentary category as she has been nominated for the prize again, this time for Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.
Speaking from the red carpet on Wednesday evening, the Good Morning Britain presenter told the PA news agency: "The comments I've had and the emails and the letters have been so wonderful, and so obviously it’s been very sad in a way, because you’d love him to be here, or even if he wasn’t well enough to be actually here then to be going home to tell him all about it.
"But on the other hand, he will be so happy, I think that the issues that he wanted raised are being raised and so hopefully that’s good."
Kate also added that he'd be "very proud of these two", referring to their children Darcey and Billy, who "get very shy at these things but wanted to come". She added that it is "wonderful" to have the “Draper gang”.
Call The Midwife star Laura Main was wowed in a long-white frock as co-star Helen George looked amazing in a halter-neck black mini dress with diamante embellishment on the chest. Line of Duty legend Vicky McClure posed up a storm in a strapless black midi dress. Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt reunited with his on-screen mum on the red carpet as he posed alongside EastEnders actress Michelle Collins.
Dame Mary Berry, 89, re-wore an 11-year-old statement blue sapphire silk gown at the National Television Awards (NTAs), proving timeless style does not age. The ex-Bake Off judge slipped into a high waist floor-length gown with a chiffon bodice from the independent label, Damsel In A Dress.
The star accessorised the bright blue gown with a chunky silver jewelled necklace and nude pointed pumps. "I thought I wasn’t going to buy something new because I don’t usually wear dresses everyday,"
Mary explained. "I looked in my wardrobe and I thought it would be nice to wear it again. It was 11 years ago and I’m a little bit smaller. My daughter-in-law designs wedding dresses and she just turned it up so I don’t trip up as I went along."
The fashion choice was the same as she wore to the 2013 NTAs, which garnered national attention and led many to purchasing the Kayleigh dress online. When Mary initially wore the frock in 2013, she was presenting the Best Entertainment Programme award with her then co-star, Paul Hollywood.
Ahead of the star-studded ceremony, presenter Joel Dommett has said he will potentially "steer clear" of making jokes about the controversy surrounding BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing during his time hosting the show.
It comes after an investigation was launched by the corporation following allegations made about professional dancer Giovanni Pernice by his former dancer partner Amanda Abbington, with the results yet to be made public. The BBC dance programme, which will return for its 20th anniversary series this autumn, is nominated for the talent show prize, which it has won 11 times.
Speaking about the event and his role as host, Joel, 39, told the PA news agency earlier this month: "I’m there just to keep the energy up. I wouldn’t want anyone to feel singled out in that audience, really. Any sort of jokes we do make about people, hopefully they’re tongue in cheek enough to make people understand that it’s a bit of fun.
"But that is the hard sort of thing with hosting an awards ceremony, it’s hard to figure out what that line is and making sure that you tread the right course. But the NTAs is generally pretty fluffy and fun."
Discussing Strictly and whether the show could win this year, amid the controversy, he added: "It’s a hard one really. It’s hard to know what’s gonna happen with it.It’s definitely not something I’m probably gonna joke about.
"You’ve just got to be so careful with these things. Different award ceremonies would definitely go for that joke. I just feel like we’re probably better, potentially, to steer clear of it. It’s also a great show. Who knows what’s going to happen? Obviously it’s been horrible the stuff that’s been coming out."
Joel also reflected on this year’s other nominations and said it has been an "incredibly strong year" for British drama with hit shows including Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, Baby Reindeer, Fool Me Once, and One Day all receiving nods in the new drama category. "It’s gone from strength to strength," he told PA.
"Mr Bates Vs The Post Office is the perfect example of something that – it’s sort of a sleeper hit, really. It’s not just been an incredible show, it’s also got politicians involved and things like that. It’s really changed the fabric of our country. It’s quite rare when shows like that come along and make a real difference.
He continued: "It absolutely shows the power of television. Then you’ve got Baby Reindeer. You would never anticipate it being so huge. I know Richard Gadd from the old comedy days of doing stand up, he’s just always been such a talent and so brilliant. Such a great writer and performer.
"[He] always put on these really interesting shows up in Edinburgh. It’s just so great to see him get the credit that he deserves. It’s mad, mad how massive that show became from sort of nowhere, really.”
Baby Reindeer is said to be based on a "true story" and after it was released to Netflix, Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha and filed a lawsuit against the streaming platform, alleging the story is inaccurate.
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