TV Editor Rod McPhee gives his expert predictions for tomorrow's National Television Awards (NTAs).
Could Claudia Winkleman Reign Supreme?
The queen of British telly could officially be Claudia Winkleman, according to viewers who vote for the NTAs. Winkleman is nominated in three categories, including her role as co-host on Strictly Come Dancing, which is highly likely to win the Talent Show category. She is also nominated in the Reality category for her BBC1 show The Traitors. However, the real triumph would be winning the Best Presenter award, which she is up against Ant and Dec for.
Good Chance for Happy Valley and Dame Deborah James
The final series of BBC1's cop thriller, Happy Valley, is a strong contender for the Returning Drama category. Lead stars Sarah Lancashire and James Norton are also nominated for the Drama Performance award. On the other hand, Dame Deborah James has a good chance of winning the Authored Documentary award for her show Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words. James, a campaigner against bowel cancer, passed away last year after raising awareness and funds to combat the disease.
This Morning Faces Scrutiny
After a difficult year, This Morning will be closely watched at the NTAs. The daytime show is a favorite to win the Daytime Award, but recent events may have turned viewers off. Surprisingly, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have not been nominated in the Best Presenter category, putting pressure on Alison Hammond to secure a win. However, she faces tough competition from Claudia Winkleman and Ant & Dec.
A Tribute to Paul O'Grady
In light of his recent passing, ITV is expected to pay tribute to Paul O'Grady, who passed away on March 28 at the age of 67. O'Grady and his show For The Love Of Dogs previously won the Outstanding Achievement NTA in 2018. There is speculation that ITV may choose to honor O'Grady posthumously with a special tribute at the NTAs.
