Sir David Attenborough feels 'honoured' by NTA success
Sir David Attenborough, the legendary documentary-maker, has admitted to feeling "honoured" by his NTA success.
Sir David Attenborough feels "honoured" to have been named Best Presenter at the National Television Awards (NTAs).
The 100-year-old documentary-maker won the accolade on the back of a public vote, after he hosted Secret Garden, a BBC show that explored Britain’s backyards, earlier in the year.
Attenborough didn't attend the ceremony at the O2 in London, but Mark Brownlow, his long-time collaborator, collected the award on his behalf.
Brownlow said: "I hope this award is a response to the part television has played in growing recognition, not only for the terrible plight our wonderful planet is in as a result of human activity but also of the fact we now have a pressing responsibility to do what we can to protect and conserve it.
"Humanity has always needed the natural world for all the practicalities of life and for our mental wellbeing. Now the natural world needs us too. Surely we must not ignore that simple fact."
Elsewhere, comedian Alan Carr was handed a Special Recognition Award at the NTAs.
The Celebrity Traitors star - who received his gong from showbiz pal Amanda Holden - said on stage: "It’s amazing. It’s been very surreal and triggering. But thank you, because if you didn’t watch the shows and vote, then I wouldn’t be here."
Emmerdale, the long-running ITV soap, was named the Best Serial Drama, and Jeff Hordley - who plays Cain Dingle on the show - claimed the Serial Drama Performance prize.
Strictly Come Dancing was named the Best Talent Show, while Mrs Brown’s Boys claimed the Best Comedy accolade.
Vicky McClure won the gong for Best Drama Performance for her part in ITV's Trigger Point, and she used her speech to pay tribute to working-class actors in the UK.
The 43-year-old TV star said: "It’s so hard, we’ve got to make it easier."
Meanwhile, This Morning saw off competition from Good Morning Britain, James Martin’s Saturday Morning, Loose Women and Scam Interceptors to win in the Daytime category.
This Morning co-host Cat Deeley subsequently described working on the ITV show as a "real privilege".
She said backstage: "I think more than anything, we love going into work. It is a pleasure to go in and it is a real privilege to go into people’s living rooms."
Full list of NTA winners:
Reality Competition:
The Celebrity Traitors
New Drama:
I Fought The Law
Quiz Show:
The 1 percent Club
Authored Documentary:
Our Girls: The Southport Families
Returning Drama:
Call the Midwife
TV Presenter:
Sir David Attenborough
Reality Docuseries:
Clarkson’s Farm
Comedy:
Mrs Brown’s Boys
Drama Performance:
Vicky McClure, Trigger Point
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award:
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
Serial Drama:
Emmerdale
Serial Drama Performance:
Jeff Hordley, Emmerdale
Factual Entertainment:
Gogglebox
Daytime:
This Morning
Talent Show:
Strictly Come Dancing
