NTAs Announce First All-Female Drama Performance Shortlist
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- National Television Awards selected the first all-female shortlist in the drama performance category: Sheridan Smith (I Fought The Law), Ruth Jones (Netflix's Run Away), Vicky McClure (Trigger Point), Ella Bruccoleri (The Other Bennet Sister) and Judy Parfitt (Call The Midwife).
- The drama performance longlist also included David Tennant, Gary Oldman, Idris Elba, James Norton and Tom Hiddleston, all of whom were eliminated by public vote before the final five.
- Stacey Solomon earned three nominations, including best TV presenter, where she competes against Ant & Dec, Sir David Attenborough (in his 100th birthday year), Claudia Winkleman and Alison Hammond.
- Canadian breakout romance Heated Rivalry is nominated for best new drama, eligible because it was co-produced by Sky, while the final series of Strictly Come Dancing hosted by Winkleman and Tess Daly is shortlisted for best talent show.
- Mrs Brown's Boys received a best comedy nomination despite creator Brendan O'Carroll breaking his jaw and officially cancelling the show's festive specials this week.
- The NTAs, launched in 1995, will be hosted by Joel Dommett at London's O2 arena and broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from 20:00 BST on 8 September, with a second public-voting stage now open across the awards' 15 categories.
Why it matters: The all-female drama performance shortlist is a historic first for the NTAs and a publicly-voted outcome — high-profile male actors including Gary Oldman and Idris Elba were on the longlist but cut by viewers. With 15 categories up for grabs by midday on 8 September, this is the last public-voting window before the ceremony.
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