Sheridan Smith and Ruth Jones receive nods in all-female NTAs category in ceremony first
Sheridan Smith, Ruth Jones, Vicky McClure, Judy Parfitt, and Ella Bruccoleri have made history ahead of this year's National Television Awards after they made up the nominees in the first-ever all-female shortlist for the Drama Performance prize.
Sheridan Smith and Ruth Jones are among the nominees for the first-ever all-female shortlist for the Drama Performance prize at this year's National Television Awards.
Smith has a nod for her role as Ann Ming in ITV's four-part true crime series I Fought The Law - in which Ming attempted to overturn the 800-year-old British double jeopardy law following the murder of her daughter - and Jones is up for the accolade for portraying Elena Ravenscroft in Harlan Coben's Netflix thriller Run Away.
The pair will do battle with Trigger Point's Vicky McClure - who has a Drama Performance nod for the third time - as well as Call the Midwife's Judy Parfitt, and The Other Bennet Sister star Ella Bruccoleri.
A male actor has triumphed in the category at six of the last seven NTAs ceremonies, with Adolescence star Owen Cooper scooping the Drama Performance gong last time out.
Sarah Lancashire was the last woman to win the award, for her starring role as Happy Valley's Catherine Cawood, in 2023, but there will be a guaranteed female victor this year.
The big talking point of last year's NTAs came when Ant and Dec were finally defeated in the TV Presenter category.
The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! co-hosts' 23-year winning streak was ended by former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker.
However, he will not be able to defend his crown this year - after he failed to make the shortlist.
Ant and Dec have a chance to win the gong again, but they will face stiff competition from This Morning host Alison Hammond, The Traitors frontwoman Claudia Winkleman, and Sort Your Life Out's Stacey Solomon.
What's more, naturalist Sir David Attenborough has a nod in the category for the first time, in the year he celebrated his 100th birthday.
Winkelman will also go up against Ant and Dec in the Reality Competition category.
The 54-year-old star's shows The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors are up against I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and spin-off show I'm A Celebrity... South Africa.
Race Across the World also has a nod in the category.
What's more, Gladiators has received its first NTAs nod since the show was rebooted in 2024.
The BBC One programme is up for The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award, alongside Michael McIntyre's Big Show, The Graham Norton Show, The Masked Singer, and Would I Lie to You?.
Joel Dommett will return to host the ceremony for the sixth year in a row, from London's The O2 on Tuesday, September 8, when the results will be revealed.
The show will broadcast live on ITV from 8pm.
National Television Awards 2026 Nominations Shortlist:
Drama Performance
Ella Bruccoleri, Mary Bennet (The Other Bennet Sister)
Judy Parfitt, Sister Monica Joan, (Call the Midwife)
Ruth Jones, Elena Ravenscroft, (Run Away)
Sheridan Smith, Ann Ming, (I Fought The Law)
Vicky McClure, Lana Washington, (Trigger Point)
TV Presenter
Alison Hammond
Ant + Dec
Claudia Winkleman
David Attenborough
Stacey Solomon
Reality Competition
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
I'm A Celebrity... South Africa
Race Across the World
The Celebrity Traitors
The Traitors
New Drama
A Woman of Substance
Believe Me
Heated Rivalry
I Fought The Law
The Other Bennet Sister
Quiz Show
Ant + Dec's Limitless Win
Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
Richard Osman's House of Games
The 1% Club
The Chase
Authored Documentary
Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth
Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix
Our Girls: The Southport Families
Sharon + Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home
Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me
Returning Drama
Blue Lights
Bridgerton
Call the Midwife
Stranger Things
Trigger Point
Reality Docuseries
At Home With The Furys
Clarkson's Farm
Fletchers' Family Farm
Mortimer + Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Stacey + Joe
Comedy
Amandaland
Changing Ends
Last One Laughing
Mrs Brown's Boys
Not Going Out
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Gladiators
Michael McIntyre's Big Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Masked Singer
Would I Lie to You?
Serial Drama
Casualty
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Serial Drama Performance
Aaron Thiara, Ravi Gulati, (EastEnders)
Gareth Pierce, Todd Grimshaw, (Coronation Street)
Jeff Hordley, Cain Dingle, (Emmerdale)
Paul Bradley, Nigel Bates, (EastEnders)
Sue Devaney, Debbie Webster, (Coronation Street)
Factual Entertainment
24 Hours in Police Custody
Gogglebox
Secret Garden
Sort Your Life Out
The Martin Lewis Money Show Live
Daytime
Good Morning Britain
James Martin's Saturday Morning
Loose Women
Scam Interceptors
This Morning
Talent Show
Britain's Got Talent
Strictly Come Dancing
The Great British Bake Off
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer
The Great Pottery Throw Down
